JOHANNESBURG - A series of violent incidents at schools across the country has raised fresh concerns about the safety of learners and teachers.
In the latest incident, learners at Iphutheng Primary School in Alexandra, Johannesburg, were left traumatised after two-armed men allegedly entered the school on Tuesday.
It is understood the suspects entered the school during an alleged robbery. Preliminary reports indicate that several warning shots were fired, causing panic among learners and educators.
Learners and staff fled for safety, while laptops were reportedly stolen during the robbery.
The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed the incident, while police have launched an investigation.
The incident comes just days after Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile and police conducted search-and-seizure operations at several schools as part of a province-wide school safety campaign.
Police confiscated knives, scissors, vapes, a fork and drugs during the operation.
READ | Knives, drugs and absenteeism: Raid exposes anarchy at Gauteng school
Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal, a 19-year-old learner was allegedly assaulted and killed on school premises on Tuesday.
Siboniso Landela, a learner at Vusumuzi High School in Isithebe, northern KwaZulu-Natal, was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with four other learners.
He was allegedly struck on the head during the fight and was later found unconscious.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said four learners, aged between 15 and 20, had been arrested in connection with the incident.
Comment from the provincial education department will be added once received.
In the Western Cape, a Grade 10 learner died in June after he was involved in a fight with another learner at Bellville High School in Cape Town.
The learner was taken to hospital, where he later died. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Last week, learners from the school were allegedly involved in another fight, this time with pupils from a nearby school. No serious injuries were reported.
A community leader said the fights were often linked to gang activity and cultural differences.