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Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi
PHOTO: Sandile Ndlovu / Gallo
- Two students were stabbed at Elspark High School on Monday.
- Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said the fight was due to a problem related to cell phones.
- Lesufi wants a tangible report on the incident before passing judgment.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says it wants a tangible report of a stabbing incident at Hoërskool Elspark on Monday that left two students injured.
“I just had a painful and difficult session after I was informed of what happened, apparently the incident started on Friday. It is a fight over cell phones and it extended to Monday and while I am talking to you, two students were hospitalized, one has “They took him to the theater because the middle finger is dangling,” Lesufi told the media at the school on Tuesday.
Lesufi visited the school after being bothered by videos of the incident that were circulated on social media.
Lesufi told the school administration to gather evidence about the incident and file a report on Friday; only then could the department pass judgment.
“We have a responsibility to build a truly non-racial South Africa and it starts in the classroom,” he said.
READ HERE | 17-year-old Gauteng boy stabbed to death, allegedly by a fellow student
This followed students and parents who told the media that there was an alleged “racial discrimination” environment at the school. The School Board of Directors (SGB) challenged this claim.
“We do not support racism in this school, we really do not. We want all students to be safe in our schools,” said SGB President Marius Kuilder.
Lesufi said he was aware of the various allegations from students and parents and did not “want to make radical statements about racism.”
“If we act wrong we are going to set the wrong precedent, we must be sure. I hate racism with a passion, but I am addicted to non-racism. There is no way I can point the finger without any evidence.
“I will never make a radical statement of racism [when] I have nothing not even tangible. It would be naive to think that a school going through a transition would not have some racial tensions. If we need to support the school, we will, “Lesufi explained.
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The MEC said it was proud of the school for opening its doors to all children.
Albertina Vesi, the mother of one of the students who was stabbed, said she believed race was a factor in the incident.
“On the racial issue, he has been talking about this racial problem at school,” he alleged.
The parents of another 17-year-old student who was stabbed at school told News24 on Monday that the boy was simply trying to protect his friend.
“The children accused another student of stealing a cell phone. [victim] was attacked, while trying to protect his friend [learner accused of stealing a phone] and subsequently they stabbed him just above the left hip and cut off two of his fingers, “the parents told News24.
READ ALSO | Boy stabbed at Gauteng school
A video of the incident circulated on social media Monday where a knife could be seen in the clip.
The facts surrounding the incident were still unclear.
News24 reached out to Gauteng police about the matter. Your comment will be added once received.
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