Cops cane Ngowane pupils

NGOWANE – Police on Friday caned at least 18 pupils of Ngowane Primary School for allegedly rioting.

Ngowane Primary is in Northern Hhohho.

The Grade seven pupils were unhappy about the dismissal of their class teacher, Cebisile Nkambule. Nkambule was fired by government for allegedly participating in the teachers’ indefinite strike.

Upon learning of her sacking after morning assembly, the pupils are alleged to have started singing and dancing while refusing to go class. They were allegedly joined by Grade five and Grade six pupils.

The pupils, who were carrying sticks, allegedly refused to heed instructions from teachers and the principal to calm down and return to class.

They are alleged to have then gone on a rampage destroying school property.

Several windows in classrooms were broken in the wake of the ‘protest action’.

The principal was forced to suspend classes indefinitely.

Police were called to the school and at least 18 pupils in Grades VI and VII were beaten on the buttocks by the police who accused them of inciting other pupils to riot.

Both boys and girls were caned by the police.

In an interview, the school principal, Robert Shabangu said it all started after officials from the Ministry of Education and Training visited the school on Thursday.

Shabangu said they served two teachers with letters. "Teachers who were served with letters included Nkambule and another Grade VI teacher."

Nkambule said the officers served her with the letter while she was busy in the Home Economics class with pupils.

She said she related the matter to the pupils and showed them the dismissal letter.

Following that, Nkambule said she later handed over school property as per instruction from the letter and bade the pupils farewell.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Your website:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: