Africa-Press – South-Africa. Gun violence has this week disrupted schooling in Elsies River, but matric exams all proceeded, despite the death of a pupil.
Jahmiel van Reenen, a grade 8 pupil at Ravensmead High, was shot dead in front of his home on Tuesday morning.
A 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were also wounded in the attack, apparently by two gunmen who fled onto the grounds of St Andrews High, causing panic.
Schools in the area immediately went into lockdown mode and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED)’s Bronagh Hammond said it was extremely traumatic.
“It was quite a hectic day yesterday, in terms of just trying to ensure the integrity of examinations was still intact and getting all the learners back into the school because when the gang had gotten onto the school premises, they were armed, and there was a lot of fear and a lot learners ran home or hid.”
The department’s district counseling support team was deployed.
“We were missing three learners that we knew had to write. The principal was amazing. He got in his car and drove around, even amongst all the gang violence, to find the three remaining learners and at least there was a silver lining to that – we found all three.”
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