After receiving reports about a number of violent incidents at Umlulama High School (Umgungundlovu District), we decided to hold a meeting with various stakeholders in the community of Hopewell with the intention of getting more information about the cause of these rather disturbing incidents.
After listening to reports from various stakeholders, we decided that a community meeting should be called to bring these incidents to an end. All reports suggest that the community is the root cause of the rot taking place at Umlulama High School. It is said that there are gangs in the community and these gangs choose to use the school as the battle ground. It is also reported that the community of Hopewell has a problem of drugs and these drugs are being sold to the learners. We were also disturbed to hear that it is the community that supplies these learners with all assortments of weapons.
Given this background, As a department we have decided to call a community meeting this coming Friday, 3 May 2013, to engage the community on this issue and once and for all put an end to this culture violence at Umlulama High School.
The Friday meeting is going to involve the Department of Education as well as the
Department of Community Safety and Liaison and we are going to ask the MEC for Safety and Liaison to be part of the meeting. Schools are for teaching and learning and we cannot tolerate a situation where schools are used as battle grounds.
For more information contact:
Muzi Mahlambi
Cell: 082 519 1420
Sihle Mlotshwa
Cell: 072 207 2018
Muntu Lukhozi
Cell: 082 562 5965
