Parents and residents gathered outside Centenary Secondary School on Wednesday morning hoping to hear from the school's principal.
Image: Se-Anne Rall/IOL
Senior district officials from the Department of Education (DoE) in KwaZulu-Natal are meeting with Centenary Secondary School management, teachers, parents and stakeholders to find out what led to a massive brawl outside the school on Tuesday.
IOL reported that three learners were stabbed during violent altercations that played out, on the street outside the school.
Although unconfirmed at this stage, it is alleged that the fight stemmed from an incident on Monday where a black learner was allegedly threatened at knifepoint, forced to consume Xanax and robbed.
Parents outside the school told IOL that this led to teachers searching learners on Tuesday and thereafter a fight erupted within the school.
Speaking on the basis of anonymity, parents claimed that some learners were unhappy about being told about their hairstyles or uniform and resorted to breaking windows and doors at the school.
Around 9am, learners were dismissed and parents informed that they needed to collect their children.
"When they were walking out of school, two parents outside the school incited learners and the fight spilled onto the road," he claimed.
Videos of the chaos on the road have since gone viral on social media.
A mother who asked not to be named told IOL that her son was seriously injured in Tuesday's fight.
She said he remains in hospital where he is undergoing treatment. She declined to comment further.
On Wednesday morning, there was a large police presence at the school as irate parents and residents gathered, demanding that the principal, Douglas Gounden, address them.
Parents are further demanding that Gounden be removed from the school and an overhaul of the school's governing body.
DoE spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, said officials have begun the groundwork in their investigation to establish the facts surrounding what led to the fight.
"We will attend to all those issues. Whatever will be the version that caused and landed us where we are, we will attend to that," he said.
Mahlambi further stated that despite reports of parents being afraid to send their children to school on Wednesday, learning is continuing.
For now, IOL understands that a meeting is taking place with officials and thereafter, a meeting will be called for parents to address their grievances and establish a way forward.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL