By Sbongile Nonyana
The police in Hammanskraal are facing protests from high school learners demanding justice for their classmate, Koketso Manganyi, 18, who was found stabbed to death near her home last week.
The learners are upset that no arrests have been made yet.
On Monday, around 250 learners from several high schools in Stinkwater, Hammanskraal, marched to demand action.
Learners from Modilati High, Tipfuxeni Secondary, Ntswane Secondary, and Bokamoso Secondary joined the protest led by the Congress of South African Students (Cosas). They gathered at Mashigo garage, chanting “Justice for Koketso.”
Cosas spokesperson Basetsana Mahlangu said they delivered a letter to the police because they want answers.
“This march was to warn the police to take action. It’s been a week since Koketso was killed, and nothing has been done,” she said. Mahlangu is worried the attacker might harm another student if not caught.
Boitimelo Thage, from the ANC Youth League in Tshwane, shared her anger over the violence against learners.
“Earlier this year, a student from Bokamoso High School was killed, and now Koketso [from Modilati High]. We are not happy with how slowly the police are handling these cases,” she said.
Thage added that they are tired of their concerns being ignored.
“We want to make sure this doesn’t happen again, but it feels like no one is listening to us,” she said.
Matome Metlatse, the Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson, said the department is concerned about the situation and will work hard to make schools safer.
“We will work with the police to find the person responsible, and we ask parents to support the police in this,” he said.
Captain Brown Ditlamelo from Temba police station said they received the learners’ complaints and are working to arrest the attacker.
“We are working day and night to catch the person responsible, and we will share updates once someone is arrested,” he said.
The police have 14 days to respond to the students’ complaints.
Pictured above: The protest.
Source: Supplied
