Africa-Press – South-Africa. The DA has called for stricter safety measures in and around schools after a matric pupil at Langenhoven High School in Pretoria was attacked and stabbed four times by unknown attackers outside the school premises.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the stabbing occurred outside the school on Friday afternoon when criminals targeted the pupil.
The pupil had refused to hand over her cellphone.
According to Gauteng DA spokesperson for community safety Crezane Bosch, the pupil has been admitted to hospital and is fighting for her life.
“This incident comes after numerous incidents have been reported over the last three years of learners, teachers, security guards and general workers being brutally attacked and assaulted outside the school premises,” said Bosch.
She added that although the cases were reported to the police, there were no arrests and no prosecutions.
Bosch said there seemed to be uncertainty about which police station was responsible for the jurisdiction of the school as it was situated in Ward 58 opposite the Pretoria Zoo on the border of Capital Park and Pretoria Central.
“The perpetrators are believed to have settled on top of the mountain in Capital Park, from where they prey on their victims. They also seem to have found hideaway trails in the Apies River Spruit next to the school that leads to Marabastad.”
According to the DA, it has inspected the area. The party has demanded that the Gauteng Department of Community Safety launch a joint operation to monitor and clean up the area.
“The department must also implement footpath patrols with horses during the week when children are at their most vulnerable. We also demand an urgent intervention by the Gauteng Department of Education to ensure the safety of the school and its assets,” added Bosch.
The party said it would write to Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela to make proposals for how to eradicate brutal attacks on pupils and staff.
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