The incident at a school in Kimberley, where a firearm was found in the possession of a Gr. 12 learner, is strongly condemned in the strongest possible terms by the Northern Cape Department of Education.
This incident took place on Monday, 29 July, at the Vuyolwethu High School in Kimberley.
The Northern Cape MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo, visited the school on Tuesday morning to assess the situation and how the matter has been dealt with.
Yesterday, the principal of the school conducted a random search after information was received that a Gr. 12 learner was in possession of a firearm.
The South African Police Service and the district office of the Department of Education in the Frances Baard District were immediately notified.
The learner was arrested at school.
Although there was apparently no intention to hurt anyone, this still remains a serious offense and a threat to the life of the same learner and the schooling community, said the department in a statement.
The district officials and the principal met with the implicated learner and his parents to obtain more information on the incident.
During the discussion, another learner of the neighbouring school, St Boniface High, was linked to the firearm. He was also questioned, accompanied by his mother.
“The matter is now entirely with the South African Police Service for investigation, and the learner appeared before the court on Tuesday, 30 July,” said Geoffrey van der Merwe, spokesperson of the department.
The Vuyolwethu High School forms part of 86 hot spot schools in the Northern Cape where a high number of vandalism and theft take place.
Seven school safety volunteers were allocated to address matters related to security.
The department is busy refining this programme and to better equip the school safety volunteers to handle incidents of such nature.
Van der Merwe said the department’s Employee Support Services is currently at the school to provide counselling to educators and learners who have been directly affected by this traumatic experience.
