By Buziwe Nocuze
A fight between learners from different areas of Cape Town has caused several parents to remove their children from Phakama Secondary School and Vuyiseka High School.
A parent who wants to stay anonymous said the fighting between learners from different areas had been happening for years.
The two schools are both in Phillipi East, Lower Crossroads.
Learners who come to the schools from other areas, such as Nyanga or Gugulethu, have been attacked, and there have also been reports of learners from both schools attacking each other.
“We don’t understand why the department hasn’t fixed this yet. We took our kids out of these schools because they are attacked and not safe,” said the parent.
The fight mainly involves male learners.
“Keeping our kids home is the only solution for now,” the parent said. “My son came back without shoes; he took them off while running away from other students. We can’t let our kids go to school like this.”
Nokuzola Khapha’s boys went to school last week but have not returned since.
“One of them was almost stabbed. After that, I decided to stop them from going. Education is important, but they can’t learn if they are dead. They can always go to school later,” said Khapha.
Last month, a student from Phakama Secondary School was shot and killed outside the school gate. He was from another area.
The fight has also stopped extra classes at the Beautiful Gate community centre near Vuyiseka High School.
“The extra classes stopped because our kids were being attacked. It’s surprising since Vuyiseka High School is opposite the Philippi East SAPS, so our kids don’t even fear the police,” said Khapha.
Millicent Morton, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department, said the two schools reported safety concerns for students on their way to and from school.
“We have placed two safety officers at Phakama Secondary School, and a random search and seizure was conducted last week, and no weapons were found,” said Morton.
The department has also asked the SAPS to increase police visibility in the area in the morning and afternoon.
Pictured above: Some parents have decided to pull their kids from the Phakama and Vuyiseka schools.
Source: Supplied
