15 November 2023
MEDIA STATEMENT
SADTU EASTERN CAPE STATEMENT ON THE KILLING OF TEACHERS IN LUSIKISIKI
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union has noted with great concern and shock, the killing of teachers and our members in Lusikisiki area under the Gamalandile Gwayi Region since the beginning of the 2023 academic year. Below are the recent incidents of brutal attacks on teachers:
- On the 16 February 2023, the Deputy Principal of Siwali High School was gunned down at his home.
- On the 30 September 2023, the Principal of Ebuhlanyana High School was highjacked at gun point on the way to school. His body was found at Mtsila River, and the vehicle was discovered at Flagstaff.
- More recently, on the 10 November 2023, Mrs. Mahlungulu was highjacked on her way to school to assist the grade 12 learners as they write their examinations. She was a teacher at Sobaba High School. Her lifeless body was found thrown at the same Mtsila River and her car was discovered in the Flagstaff area.
- We also remember another educator who was also brutally murdered in May 2022.He was a teacher at Mgezwa Senior Secondary School and was on his way home after the evening classes as he was helping learners prepare for their mid-year examinations.
- All these teachers were members of our union, SADTU.
In all these incidents, we have not heard of any suspects being apprehended to face the full might of the law.
The attacks on teachers have increased in the recent past, with some being mugged right inside school premises.
We call upon our communities to safeguard and protect our teachers. One teacher lost is one too many. Our schools face a serious challenge of understaffing and can’t afford to lose any teacher in this manner.
Through the “I Am a School Fan” campaign, we call for an end to the senseless killing of teachers. We call upon the law enforcement agencies to do all in their power to investigate these killings and bring the perpetrators to book.
We denounce any form of violence against teachers.
ISSUED BY : SADTU EC Provincial Secretariat