North West female teacher stabbed multiple times during class

A 47-year-old female teacher in the North West is fighting for her life in hospital after she was viciously stabbed several times by a fellow educator on Monday, 3 May 2021.

It is alleged that the woman, a teacher at Tshefoge Primary School at Vaalboschloot, was attacked by a 64 year-old male educator from Tolamo Primary School at Letlhakaneng Village near Brits.

The school where the woman works has been under construction since the last quarter and learners have since been moved to a community hall as a temporary measure. It is believed that the man, who’d concealed his face with a balaclava and armed with a sharp object, forcefully entered the hall and refused to sanitise or have his temperature checked, as per the current COVID-19 protocols.

“He called the victim (teacher) and went outside whereby arguments ensued between them. It is alleged that, the teacher had multiple stabbing wounds from the back of the neck and the back. The staff at school managed to rush in to apprehend the culprit and called the police. The injured educator is still in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit of the local hospital”

North West Education Department spokesperson Elias Malindi

Police have confirmed they’re investigating a case of attempted murder and that the suspect was taken to a local clinic where he was treated for slight injuries.

North West Education MEC to visit school

Mmaphefo Matsemela, the North West province’s Education MEC has condemned the attack and is expected to visit the school on Tuesday morning, 4 May 2021.

The MEC said the learners and educators will also receive counselling, in the wake of the incident.

“As a department we are very much disturbed and disappointed by such a heinous and barbaric incident which happened in our schools allegedly perpetrated by one of our educators. I wish to condemn in its strongest terms and indicate that gender based violence is not welcomed in our schools,” Matsemela said.

“Anyone who does that will be subjected to the full might of the law. This has also traumatised our learners since it happened in front of them. I wish to thank the staff members who braved themselves and apprehended the suspect.”