The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has indicated, on Thursday 21 August 2025, that she will instruct the School Governing Body (SGB) to take steps against the Hoer Tegniese Skool pupils, who allegedly entered the entered the school restrooms and dressed in overalls and balaclavas, disrupting the teaching and learning environment at the school on Tuesday, 19 August.
This follows a video that has gone viral on social media depicting an attack on a male teacher by several balaclava clad students who poured a bucket of water on him and pelted him with papers on the school premises.
A teacher promptly responded by going to the restroom area to encourage the learners to return to class. During this interaction, the incident escalated to a situation wherein learners poured water onto the teacher. The learners continued by throwing papers at the teacher.
“This behaviour displayed by these learners is extremely barbaric and is unacceptable. We are not going to tolerate learners who assault our teachers, they do not belong in our schools.
“I am going to instruct the School Governing Body of this school to take drastic steps against these learners. The steps taken by the school should send a message to other learners to never attempt such horrible behaviour. I have instructed the district to arrange psychosocial support for the teachers and learners who have been affected by this incident”, said Motsumi.
Motsumi strongly condemned the ill-discipline displayed by the learners and expressed her appreciation to the SGB, the Department of Education staff, teachers, parents, and the broader community for their continued support in upholding these values.
The school staff responded promptly and effectively to the situation, prioritising learners’ safety by securing the premises and removing the individuals involved.
An immediate investigation was initiated, and the learners involved were identified. Their parents were promptly informed of the incident.
On Wednesday, 20 August 2025, the School Management Team (SMT) convened an urgent meeting.
Following the instructions of the SGB, it was resolved that all involved learners would be suspended for five (5) school days.
This suspension is an interim measure pending the outcome of a formal disciplinary process as per the school’s code of conduct. The parents of the learners were invited to an official meeting today, during which they were informed of the decision to suspend.
The suspension was implemented to ensure the safety and well-being of all learners and staff.
Departmental spokesperson Mphata Molokoane indicated that the department remains committed to fostering an environment where discipline and safety are paramount.
“The disciplinary process will continue according to departmental policies and the school’s code of conduct.”
Meanwhile, the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the province condemned the conduct of these learners, describing it as despicable, bordering on criminality and barbarism.
“The level of disrespect, abuse and violence that our educators are subjected to on a daily basis has reached unacceptable, alarming proportions causing unimaginable trauma,” declared Convenor of the MRM Provincial Interim Committee, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele.
Pastor Kgwele highlighted that this warrants adoption of zero tolerance and stringent counter measures because not only do such conduct undermine discipline but a conducive atmosphere for effective learning and teaching particularly at most high schools.
He urged education authorities and school communities not to allow schools to be breeding grounds of gangsters and criminality, pointing out that schools are microcosms of communities experiencing moral decay, collapse of family structures and senseless violence.
“This calls for united action as well as intensified effort to reclaim sound family and community values because the adopt-a-cop programme that is supposed to be part of the School Safety & the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QTLC) is in most cases either dysfunctional or overwhelmed by gangsterism, bullying, drug and substance abuse among learners as well as violent crimes that are encroaching into the school environment,” he emphasised.
Kgwele, who has attended the National Dialogue, underscored that the gathering should also focus on violence in schools including safety in communities to entrench sound family and community values.
“It will also afford diverse stakeholders with an interest in quality public education and safer communities to redefine the type of schools, communities and the South Africa that they want,” he added.
