Minister Grant Condemns Attack on Learners | Western Cape Government

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Minister Grant Condemns Attack on Learners

4 August 2011

Media Statement by Minister of Education, Donald Grant

I am disturbed and saddened by the senseless attack on learners at Livingstone High School and strongly condemn the actions of the perpetrators.

Yesterday afternoon, a group of ten young men entered Livingstone High School while the learners were being dismissed.

The group forced their way past the security guard at the school entrance and proceeded through into the corridors of the school.

According to initial reports, the group were specifically targeting a Grade 11 learner. Subsequently, the Grade 11 learner and two other learners were attacked.

The two other learners - Grade 8 and Grade 12 - were stabbed. The Grade 12 learner was stabbed in his hand, and the Grade 8 learner in the arm and head. The perpetrators then fled the scene in two cars.

The learners were taken to hospital for observation. Two of the learners were attended to and dismissed and are now recovering at home. The Grade 12 learner, today, underwent an operation to his hand.

We wish him and the other learners a quick recovery.

Our concern now is for the safety of all the learners and educators at the school. Psychologists and counsellors have been called to the school to debrief staff and learners. Our Safe Schools directorate is also reviewing the security mechanisms at the school.

I am pleased that there have already been five arrests so far and I am confident that all the perpetrators will be identified and charged.

Learners at the school acted quickly by taking the registration numbers of the perpetrators' cars, as well as assisting police in identification.

It is completely unacceptable that violence is so easily used in attempt to resolve differences, irrespective of the underlying cause of those differences.

Media Enquiries: 

Bronagh Casey
Spokesperson
Cell: 072 724 1422
Tel: 021 467 2377