Four learners were hospitalized after a fight broke out Friday morning at Humansdorp Senior Secondary School and learners allegedly attacked each other with knives and pangas.
Police spokesperson Gerda Swart says several police officers responded to the incident at about 7:30 p.m.
“Four teenage boys between the ages of 14 and 18 were attacked with knives and pangas and taken to a hospital,” says Swart.
Eastern Cape Education Department spokeswoman Loyiso Pulumani said eight learners were treated or hospitalized and most of them were not seriously injured.
However, two of the boys, aged 15 and 17, sustained serious stab wounds to their heads, says Eastern Cape health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo. They were to be transferred to Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth for brain scans on Friday.
Swart said four boys, aged 16 to 18, who were allegedly involved in the fight, were questioned by police and later released under the supervision of their parents.
According to Pulumani, their investigation indicates that the battle between Gr. 8- and gr. 9 learners from the school broke out. This is apparently related to gang-related activities in the neighborhood that flooded into the school. In addition, trainees involved in the fight have just returned after a seven-day suspension for similar behavior.
“We cannot allow bloodshed. It is unacceptable for children with knives and pangas to arrive at a school and attack each other, ”says Pulumani.
“The school and department will investigate and, if necessary, suspend students.”
Meanwhile, parents of matriculants at the school are extremely upset because despite the “traumatic incident”, matriculants were expected to take their biology exam.
A parent, whose name may not be mentioned, says his daughter will not be able to concentrate on the matric exam after the incident.
“I feel the matriculants should not have written today. Their points are going to suffer below and those are the points they have to carry after school. ”
Another parent, who also did not want to be named, claimed the incident could have been prevented by the principal if he had acted earlier.
“The fight has been under threat for a whole week and the children’s violent behavior has been coming from the beginning of the year. The school does not want to admit there is a problem because they do not want to involve the department and now our matrics are likely to suffer below. ”
Pulumani says although one matriculant sustained a cut on his arm, he still wrote the exam.
“We believe the incident did not affect the matriculants and the police will be present when exams are written this afternoon.”
