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Johnathan Paoli
THE Select Committee on Education, Technology and the Creative Industries have condemned the recent killing of the principal of Zakhele Primary School, KwaBhaca, Eastern Cape inside the school premises for a “protection fee”.
Committee chair, Makhi Feni, called for the immediate and severe prosecution of those involved as to set an example.
“This is unacceptable. This is such an abhorrent violent act accompanied by selfishness. This points to a failure of the security system,” Feni said.
The committee sent its condolences to the family members of the principal, as well as the teaching colleagues and learners who witnessed the incident.
Feni said aggressive policing was urgently needed, in light of the violence in the province – a risk that could compromise the end of the year examinations.
The principal, who has not been named, was reportedly shot last week, in view of the school community, after a man entered the school premises and demanded a R50 000 “protection fee”, which was refused.
Feni said the criminal and all those implicated with him must be found and called on community members to use the hotline that the national commissioner announced and give the police a tip off.
The chair said it was clear the individuals involved are armed and kill at will.
“This means police should take all necessary precaution and defensive stance when dealing with these thugs and when on patrols or operations,” Feni said.
He said in light of the evasive tactics used by the criminals, the police need to adopt intelligence-driven operations.
The committee praised the work done by sergeant Mawethu Kwetana in successfully arresting four alleged extortionists in Mthatha and hoped for similar action in the Kwa-Bhaca case.
“We acknowledge this bravery with which Sgt Kwetana has dealt with the four alleged extortionists and we call on all the police and other law enforcement agencies to respond to this rising extortion crime decisively and with bravery,” he said.
This comes on the heels of a separate incident, in which a group of extortionists stormed the home of an Efata School for the Blind nurse in Mthatha, OR Tambo Inland.
According to the Eastern Cape Education Department, the extortionist demanded a similar amount from the nurse, and upon his refusal, took his mobile phone, laptop and television.
They subsequently sent a message to the principal, demanding the same amount.
Education MEC Fundile Gade has urged the community to work with law enforcement agencies to bring the extortionists and thugs to justice.
Gade said these incidents are a serious indictment of the government and pose a threat of litigious cases arising if employees can be killed in this fashion while at work.
“The security and justice cluster must appreciate the dire long-term effects of this scourge. We need to go back to the drawing board, review the existing strategy, and execute a new plan to yield different results,” the MEC said.
Extortion has become a significant problem across the province, affecting businesses of all types, and the South African Police Service has deployed a specialised unit to respond to concerning trends in Mthatha and Gqberha.
INSIDE EDUCATION
