A Durban high school has been closed indefinitely after learners torched several classrooms after their phones were confiscated. Weapons and drugs were also confiscated in the search and seizure operation.
The incident which took place at Ndengetho High School in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, raised the ire of the provincial education department.
Menzi Busani, the principal of Ndengetho High School held a community meeting on Sunday at the school. The meeting was attended by parents, local councillors, school governing body and other concerned community members.
Busani explained that teachers at the school have been complaining about alleged drug use, the presence of weapons and other illegal contraband being carried by pupils.
The principal called in the local police to conduct a search and seizure at the school. On Thursday Busani was informed few minutes prior to the police arriving at the school that a surprise search and seizure operation would take place.
Busani said among other contraband,400 cellphones were confiscated from the pupils.
“There was no way so many phones would fit into the school’s safe and it would be unsafe to keep that many phones in the school premises, so I informed the children that the police would be taking the phones and keeping them at the police station,”
Following the confiscation of the cellphones, many learners started forming large groups across the school and began torching classes during break time.
Busani said some leaners began breaking windows and doors while others used paper to torch classes. The police were called in to contain the fire.
Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo the police spokesperson said a case of malicious damage to property was opened at KwaNdengezi police station.
“The department condemns in the strongest possible terms the torching of classrooms and vandalism that took place at the school,” Kwazi Mthethwa, the education department spokesperson said.
Source: Newe24, Times Live, The Witness, image from Times Live: Supplied