SAUSIC National Spokesperson Pastor Lesiba Kgwele
By Pastor Kgwele
Spokesperson South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC)
The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) on Wednesday called for extraordinary measures to combat violence in schools.
This follows the stabbing of the principal of Hoërskool Roodepoort and several learners at the Gauteng school.
The Union of affiliated Federations of Charismatic, Evangelical Outreach Mission Ministries and Pentecostal Churches condemned the incident that occurred on Monday in the strongest terms, describing it as a horrendous act that has the potential to plunge schools into a vicious cycle of violence if not nipped in the bud.
“Urgent amendments of regulations, school rules and the learners code of conduct are necessary to allow summary dismissal of learners involved in violent acts that threaten the lives of others,” argued SAUCIC President Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole.
Shole wished the school principal and three learners who sustained serious injuries a speedy recovery.
He welcomed the suspension of six Grade 12 learners (boys) from West Ridge High School who were served with suspension letters on Tuesday.
According to the provincial education authorities, the clash stems from a violent altercation between learners on Friday, August 15, which was filmed and went viral on social media.
The matter had escalated on Monday when a group of West Ridge learners allegedly sought revenge and went to Hoërskool Roodepoort, where they attacked learners and pelted cars with stones.
While trying to defuse the situation, the principal of Hoërskool Roodepoort was stabbed and rushed to the hospital for treatment but has since been discharged.
Shole appealed for calm, urging education authorities to expedite the review of school safety in order to enforce zero tolerance to violence as well as the use of dangerous weapons such as knives, axes including guns in and around school premises.
The prevalence of incidents of this nature is worrisome as they depict moral decay and a collapse of community values that are encroaching into the school environment.
If left unchecked, they could spiral out of control with devastating effect on the lives of our learners, he cautioned.
Shole maintained that consultation with the National School Governing Bosies Association (NSGBA) and Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools (FEDSAS) and other education sector stakeholders is crucial.
He suggested that besides bullying experienced among learners, violent incidents at schools could be influenced by external factors such as gang rivalry, drug and substance abuse, drug turf wars including demonic spirits and influences.
“If the latter are involved, spiritual intervention in the form of fervent prayer is required on a regular basis to wrestle our children and schools from satanic strongholds,” emphasised Shole.