Three teachers hijacked at gunpoint on school premises – ACJ Phakade Primary School
On Monday morning, three teachers from ACJ Phakade Primary School in Nomzamo were hijacked at gunpoint as they arrived at school.
The incident occurred at around 07h40 as the educators arrived at school. Five armed men entered the school premises via the motor vehicle entrance, and held the three teachers at gunpoint making off with three vehicles.
The school has CCTV cameras which shows the perpetrators entering the gate behind the educators’ cars.
Thankfully no one was physically hurt during the incident, however, the educators involved, as well as those who witnessed the incident, are deeply traumatised. Counselling is being provided.
The WCED Safe Schools Directorate has deployed security to the school.
SAPS was called and was at the school earlier today.
I condemn this attack on our teachers in the strongest possible terms. It is absolutely shocking that criminals are targeting innocent teachers.
This is the 5th armed robbery attack on our schools in the past month.
I again appeal to anyone with information relating to the previous four attacks, and this one, to please come forward with information.
We have to stop these attacks on our schools.
In the past three weeks we have had numerous meetings with various roleplayers, including SAPS, in order to try and develop a combined response to this onslaught.
I also recently met personally with General Brandt and Brigadier Cele of SAPS who indicated that they are vigorously investigating the four armed robberies and we will ask that they do the same with this case.
Most of our schools have access control measures in place that would prevent criminals from entering our schools. However, it has become evident that they are using the starting and closing times of schools to enter, as this is when our school access points are open.
I again call on SAPS to increase their visibility around our high risk schools at the start and end of the school day when schools are all the more vulnerable.
