NONCAMPA - School security, or the lack of it, has come under scrutiny in the Eastern Cape.
This follows a string of violent incidents involving pupils from different schools.
One incident ended in tragedy: A 16-year-old was stabbed at Toise High School, in full view of classmates.
Simangaliso Jubisa’s death is beginning to sink in for pupils at Toise High.
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The teen was attacked by a 17-year-old, reportedly after a dispute that began during a weekend game.
But despite the shocking events, the Eastern Cape Education Department insists that safety remains a priority at public schools.
The department says that while the stabbing happened on school grounds, it also highlights deeper societal challenges.
“A school is not immune to what the communities are doing; that is why we have social development to deal with issues that are happening in our communities," said spokesperson Malibongiwe Mtima.
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"And, as a department, we also work with them to ensure that their programmes are also done in our schools.”
While education officials insist schools are safe spaces, child activist Petros Majola disagrees.
“The answer is no because in many schools, you could even drive in or walk in, and your vehicle is not even searched. And people don’t even know that you are to kill someone or harm someone, so it does not regularly happen," he said.
"It happens especially after there was a reported incident.”
- eNCA's Ronald Masinda reports.