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Media Release

21 April, 2005


MEC condemns gang invasion of school

THIS MORNING (Thursday 21 April 2005) about 20 thugs, armed with firearms, knives and other weapons invaded the Arcadia High School in Bonteheuwel, Cape Town, conducting class-to-class searches for a learner they wanted to kill, threatening the principal with his life, and causing chaos and panic among learners and educators.

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore has condemned this cowardly act in the strongest possible sense, and asked the police authorities to deal with culprits in the strongest possible way that the law allows for.

MEC Dugmore will visit the school tomorrow (Friday 22 April 2005) at 08h30 and address a special assembly of both the traumatised learners and educators.

The learner the gangsters wanted to kill, ran to the office of the principal who hid him in a safe. The thugs then threatened to shoot the principal if he did not produce the learner.

When the gangsters invaded the school this morning, the school contacted the police and the department's safe schools division. Fortunately, by the time police arrived, there was no loss of life or damage to property. However, the learners, principal and educators were severely traumatised. The Western Cape Education Department officials assisted with debriefing and counselling.

MEC Dugmore informed his Community Safety counterpart Leonard Ramatlakane, who asked SAPS Commissioner Mzwandile Petros to personally visit the school, who together with our Education Department officials met with the school to put in place additional security measures. Some of the security measures include extra security personnel and a policing strategy.

Said MEC Dugmore: "These thugs need to be dealt with firmly, to the most severest extent that the law allows far. We must protect our schools by all means necessary, because this is where we shape our future.

"Every incident makes all of us even more determined to speed up initiatives already under way."

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi: 082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.


Issued by:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Secretary
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689


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