The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Siyamthanda Cele (17), a Grade 10 learner at KwaMakhutha Comprehensive School, who was brutally murdered on school grounds by a matric learner last Friday.
Reports indicate that a Grade 12 learner, who is currently on the run, allegedly threatened Siyamthanda the day before following a disagreement. The premeditated nature of the incident is underscored by the perpetrator reportedly saying, “If you survive this, I will do it again,” while committing the attack. Siyamthanda was tragically declared dead upon arrival at a nearby clinic.
This horrifying act – witnessed by teachers and learners – is a deeply traumatizing experience, particularly at this crucial time of the academic year.
This is the second stabbing in KZN schools within days and starkly highlights the urgent need for heightened security and proactive interventions within our schools.
According to recent statistics, KZN recorded more than 380 incidents of violence, including stabbings, in schools in 2023 alone. This is a devastating indicator of the unsafe environments our learners face daily.
The DA reiterates its calls for immediate action by the province’s Department of Education (DoE) and MEC Sipho Hlomuka to ensure that schools are secure spaces free from violence and criminality. It is imperative that our learners and educators be protected from such tragic and preventable incidents.
We firmly believe that the establishment of a Schools Evaluation Authority will be a crucial step in addressing KZN’s violence-prone schools and ensuring resources are allocated to enhance safety measures. We are committed to launching this initiative through a legislative bill in early 2025.
In the interim, we urge MEC Hlomuka and his department to prioritize the following;
- The deployment of additional security personnel to KZN’s high-risk schools
- Counselling services for learners and teachers traumatized by the incident at KwaMakhutha Comprehensive School and;
- Greater community involvement and partnerships to proactively tackle school violence.
The DA further calls on the KwaMakhutha SAPS to spare no resource in the capture of the alleged perpetrator of this heinous crime. The full might of the law must take its course.
One life lost is one too many. We owe it to Siyamthanda and every learner in KZN to create environments where they can learn, grow, and thrive without fear.