Provincial Education Department spokesperson, Elias Malindi, says both the family and officials of the department visited the girl, who was hospitalised after being found with a knife in her stomach on Wednesday (13 March). He says they are relieved the girl is safe and out of danger, but hopes the police will work around the clock to arrest the perpetrator. The incident happened on the last day of the summit for safety in schools held in Rustenburg. The summit was aimed at finding a solution to safety issues faced by pupils and teachers who continue to be victims of crime at schools. Malindi says details of what transpired are still not known.

Malindi previously told OFM News that parents' and key stakeholders’ involvement is vital for schools across the province to prosper and be able to deal with challenges faced by schools. He was reacting to recent incidents of attacks on teachers and pupils with the hopes of finding solutions to the scourge of violence at schools, amongst others. He said parents, traditional leaders, together with businesses and government departments, need to work together to stop school violence.

OFM News previously reported that the national Department of Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said parents need to be engaged as they are responsible for the behaviour of the learners. Malindi said the department had about ten commissions that were dedicated to looking into issues besieging the schools in the province.

OFM News