- Three minors appeared in court following a series of fights between students from Soneike High, Western Cape Sports School, and Kuils River Technical High School.
- The incident, which occurred near Soneike High School, led to three criminal charges, including intimidation and assault.
- The schools involved are addressing the behavior with disciplinary actions, including suspensions and communication with parents.
Three minors appeared in court last week Tuesday (29 October) following fights between learners of two schools in Highbury the week before.
Spokesperson of Kuils River police, WO Liesel Beukes, said three criminal cases were opened following an incident that happened near Soneike High School on Thursday 24 October – two of intimidation and one of assault.
Beukes confirmed police have been doing patrols in the area to keep an eye on learners.
According to provincial education department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond a learner from Soneike High School and a learner from the Western Cape Sports School (WCSS) got into a fight on Wednesday 23 October.
”This happened within the community and not on school grounds. The next day, learners from the Sports School went to Soneike High,” Hammond said.
Video footage was doing the rounds of the clash between school boys that followed on Thursday 24 October.
Letters
The incident also led to some friction between principals.
Soneike High’s principal Ronel Baker sent out a letter in which she referred to learners of Kuils River Technical High School (KTHS) and the WCSS as “ill-disciplined”.
In response KTHS’s acting principal, Faldilah Koning, stated in a letter to parents no learners of KTHS “were involved in this unfortunate situation as indicated by the public letter by the principal and school governing body of Soneike High.”
To ensure learners’ safety Koning asked that “no KTHS learners should be in the public space (Excelsior Park) opposite Soneike High School before, during or after school hours.”
Acting principal of WCSS, R.M. Harrison said in a letter to parents (on 25 October): “An incident happened yesterday where our school’s name was yet again dragged through the mud. A high number of our learners have made themselves guilty of participating in mob justice at one of our neighbouring schools.
“We do not condone this type of behaviour and want to implore our parents to address this with their children. Individuals who incited other learners and took part in this type of action will be suspended and formal disciplinary action will follow.”
Hammond said the schools are addressing the issue in terms of their code of conduct. “They also addressed it in assembly and communication to parents of the schools.”
