Witnesses sought for shooting outside school
Lentegeur police is investigating a case of attempted murder after a man was shot outside a Rondevlei school.
They are also calling on witnesses to come forward after the injured man drove himself to hospital.
The man was shot outside The Leadership College Hyde Park on Wednesday March 13.
Lentegeur police spokesman Constable Navon van Houten: “Multiple shots were fired and we are not able to determine the motive of the shooting".
He said the matter was still under investigation.
Anyone with information can call 080 010 111.
A letter addressed to parents was circulated in WhatsApp chat groups informing them of the shooting and that the school would be closed the following day.
“Our learners were in the process of being dismissed and some learners witnessed the shooting as the men were running with guns,” read the letter.
It confirmed that the pupils were safe but traumitised.
On Thursday March 14 school management, staff and the Rondevlei neighbourhood watch met to strategise and collaborate on the children’s safety.
Principal Nazrina Teladia told the Plainsman on Friday that they would meet with parents the next day.
She said SAPS was helpful, and compassionate and assisted their teachers and pupils who needed their immediate help.
“In the days that followed they did continuous check-ins with the school and they are currently doing regular patrols,” she said.
Ms Teladia said as an independent school they were somewhat limited to services from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) but they have partnerships and networks when needed.
She made contact with the circuit manager who directed her in getting the necessary assistance.
“We appreciate the support we received from the community to move forward from this. We have come together as a staff to improve our partnerships and networks along with our internal safety protocols,” said Ms Teladia.
School governance council (SGC) director Ashraf Joseph said that it did not matter from which area the pupil was from in Mitchell's Plain but rather that the community should rally around to keep children safe.
“Create safe, child-centred environments like holiday programmes for example and more community involvement like sport or book club activities, whilst holding those who want to harm our children accountable by disclosing information and being vigilant and having eyes out for our children at all times,” he said.
“Stop judging those who have good intentions. Support your local neighbourhood watch and community forums. Every child is our child,” he said.
Ms Teladia said as an independent school they were somewhat limited to services from the Western Cape Education Department but they have partnerships and networks when needed.
She made contact with the circuit manager who directed her in the necessary assistance.
“We appreciate the support we received from the community to move forward from this. We have come together as a staff to improve our partnerships and networks along with our internal safety protocols,” said Ms Teladia.
WCED spokeswoman Millicent Merton said three shootings close to Mitchell’s Plain schools were reported between January and March.
Grade 7 pupil Firdous Kleinsmidt, 12, died after being hit by a stray bullet at Ieglaasi Nieyah Primary School, in Beacon Valley, on January 30 (“Girl, 12, killed by stray bullet”, Plainsman January 31).
She said as part of the WCED’s Safe Schools strategy, schools in Mitchell’s Plain were identified annually for support with environmental programmes where the physical structure of the school is secured.
“This is done to protect the learners and staff on school premises and to support the school safety committees by providing the resources required for the execution of their safety plans,” she said.
School Safety Committees are trained to draw up and implement Comprehensive Safety Plans, including Contingency Plans, which in turn also address gang violence and shootings around schools.
The department does not recommend that schools close during shootings but that an attempts should be made to normalise and stabilise the school setting as soon as possible, and that pupils and staff be kept safe within the confines of the school premises.
“If it is felt necessary to close the school, the school principal and the school’s Safety Committee should make the necessary recommendation to the delegated authority who may grant permission for closure of a school,” she said.
Ms Millicent said the WCED believes in forging partnerships with other government departments and relevant stakeholders.
“To this effect, the Safe Schools Component within the WCED works closely together with SAPS, Law Enforcement, the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety, and others to ensure a Whole of Government Approach (WOGA), as well as a Whole of Society Approach WOSA to ensure the safety of learners and staff,” she said.