Mec Grant Condemns Yet Another School Stabbing | Western Cape Government

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Mec Grant Condemns Yet Another School Stabbing

14 September 2009
Minister for Education in the Western Cape, Donald Grant, has condemned the stabbing of two learners at Arcadia Secondary in Bonteheuwel on Tuesday.

The incident took place on the playground during school interval. The two Grade 8 learners were taken to a hospital to seek treatment but have since been discharged.

The two Grade 9 learners accused of the stabbings have been arrested and their parents informed. The incident is alleged to be gang-related.

"It is deeply regrettable that we have had yet another school stabbing," said MEC Grant.

"Only yesterday we were discussing the severity of violence in our schools at the launch of the metal detectors project, only to hear today that another stabbing incident has occurred."

Grant said that the Districts Safe School's Co-ordinator and IMG manager had already visited the school and had arranged for trauma counseling and support for the learners and educators, which will commence tomorrow morning. He also said that the SAPS had increased their visibility around the school.

"Our learners are being confronted with violence on a daily basis which is impacting the quality of learning in our schools and is a risk to some of our learners lives," he said.

"Learners and gangsters need to know that gangsterism, drugs and violence in our schools will not be tolerated. Arcadia is located in a gang infested area and the learners act out the behaviour of the community when they need to address conflict."

Grant said that despite all the measures taken by the Department and the Safe Schools Programme, a safe learning environment would be never be achieved if the learners themselves do not take on responsibility for managing their conflict in a non violent manner.

"It is only then that we will be able to reduce crime and violence in our schools," he said.

"That is why we are focused on implementing behavioural and attitudinal programmes in all of our schools which include programmes in conflict management and behavioural modification."

Nariman Khan from the WCED's Safe Schools Programme said that the violent conflict between the learners once again reiterate the need to look at short, medium and long-term interventions at Arcadia.

"We need to support the safety committee of the school to implement early warning signs of violent conflict that might occur and have reporting mechanisms in place to deal with the conflict. The Safety Resource Officers will start mediation next term," she said.

"The social crime prevention officers of SAPS need to work with the gangs in the area and indicate that schools should not be used as battlefields. The long term strategy must focus on an integrated approach with all relevant role players - including Government and community stakeholders. The community needs to take back their neighbourhood because, sadly, a minority is holding the community hostage.

Arcadia is listed as one of the WCED's 109 "high-risk" schools and will be receiving two metal detectors tomorrow.

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Bronagh Casey
Media Liaison Officer
Ministry for Education
Western Cape
Cell: 072 7241 422
Email: brcasey@pgwc.gov.za