OUT OF CONTROL
The appalling behaviour of a section of Mphuthe Junior Secondary School students who have organised themselves into gangs, is worsening by the day. They are forever intoxicated, they beat up other students and threaten to kill teachers. This past week was the most unbearable at the school which is situated in Letlhakeng in the Kweneng District. Almost every day, fights broke outside and within school premises, with some students left injured and their white school shirts soaked in blood. There are gangs in the school and they often start fights anytime they feel like it.
Assistant Superintendent Lekopanye Molwantwa of Letlhakeng Police says they have cases in which two students were beaten and injured by gangs.
“We are really not sure what has got into these students but they have gone wild, they fight over petty things. We hear things like, 'you fought my brother last year' or 'he stole my girl' and so forth, just silly grudges,” he said.
He said they have arrested and interviewed more than 10 students who they suspect are part of the gangs. However, they are still looking for others.
“It is a difficult one because we are dealing with minors, such cases need delicacy, which is why we interview and release them. It is our hope that sense will soon prevail as teachers speak to them,” he said.
He added that some few weeks ago, one teacher came to them visibly shaken and fearing for her life. It appears the students threatened to end her life, she opened a case which the police are still investigating.
When videos of some of the riots that occurred at Mphuthe School last week were shared with this publication, it appeared the students were throwing stones at both students and teachers.
In the clips, terrified students are heard screaming and can be seen scurrying for dear life, while teachers watch in horror as the stones are thrown at their parked vehicles.
As a precautionary measure, some teachers were forced to risk being hit as they rushed to drive their cars out of the parking spaces under attack, to prevent them from getting smashed.
“The situation is bad. We hear that the gangs have vowed that they will not stop these acts until someone dies. We are even thinking of carrying knives to school for protection because our lives are at risk. One student was stabbed with a pair of scissors and was hospitalised in Molepolole. They walk around holding metal rods, they act untouchable around the school just waiting for someone to speak and they attack them,” a worried teacher said.
The teacher said both completing students and lower classes of form one and two are part of different student gangs. They have suspended some and ordered that completing students only come to school to write their final year examinations but this is not working as the students come to school whenever they feel like it.
Director of Education in the Kweneng District Steve Bothasitse said they have tried everything in their power to instil sense into Mphuthe students but all in vain. They have reported violent acts to the police, some students were taken to the Kgotla and were flocked but their wayward behaviour continues.
Bothasitse is appealing to parents to talk to their children, stating that it is saddening to realise that some parents have dumped the responsibility of disciplining their children to teachers.
“We need parents to help us, the situation is unpleasant and rapidly getting out of hand, the community needs to stand together before the worst happens,” he said.
Assistant Superintendent Lekopanye Molwantwa of Letlhakeng Police says they have cases in which two students were beaten and injured by gangs.
“We are really not sure what has got into these students but they have gone wild, they fight over petty things. We hear things like, 'you fought my brother last year' or 'he stole my girl' and so forth, just silly grudges,” he said.
He said they have arrested and interviewed more than 10 students who they suspect are part of the gangs. However, they are still looking for others.
“It is a difficult one because we are dealing with minors, such cases need delicacy, which is why we interview and release them. It is our hope that sense will soon prevail as teachers speak to them,” he said.
He added that some few weeks ago, one teacher came to them visibly shaken and fearing for her life. It appears the students threatened to end her life, she opened a case which the police are still investigating.
When videos of some of the riots that occurred at Mphuthe School last week were shared with this publication, it appeared the students were throwing stones at both students and teachers.
In the clips, terrified students are heard screaming and can be seen scurrying for dear life, while teachers watch in horror as the stones are thrown at their parked vehicles.
As a precautionary measure, some teachers were forced to risk being hit as they rushed to drive their cars out of the parking spaces under attack, to prevent them from getting smashed.
“The situation is bad. We hear that the gangs have vowed that they will not stop these acts until someone dies. We are even thinking of carrying knives to school for protection because our lives are at risk. One student was stabbed with a pair of scissors and was hospitalised in Molepolole. They walk around holding metal rods, they act untouchable around the school just waiting for someone to speak and they attack them,” a worried teacher said.
The teacher said both completing students and lower classes of form one and two are part of different student gangs. They have suspended some and ordered that completing students only come to school to write their final year examinations but this is not working as the students come to school whenever they feel like it.
Director of Education in the Kweneng District Steve Bothasitse said they have tried everything in their power to instil sense into Mphuthe students but all in vain. They have reported violent acts to the police, some students were taken to the Kgotla and were flocked but their wayward behaviour continues.
Bothasitse is appealing to parents to talk to their children, stating that it is saddening to realise that some parents have dumped the responsibility of disciplining their children to teachers.
“We need parents to help us, the situation is unpleasant and rapidly getting out of hand, the community needs to stand together before the worst happens,” he said.
