Basic Education wants report on murder of school girls

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has asked for a full report from provincial heads into circumstances that led to the tragic killing of two school girls in the North West province.

“It is deeply concerning that our young girls are dying in this manner. This is truly a tragedy and shows as society we need to work with our young boys in order to better equip them to effectively deal with relationship dynamics.

“We have seen far too many of our young women killed at the hands of their boyfriends, or ex boyfriends. It is shocking and deeply disturbing,” said Motshekga. 

The teenage girls were found hanging in the school’s dormitory premises by a matron at the school in Stella in the North West.

The Minister wants provincial heads of department to look into how the boy gained access to the dormitory.

According to the department, police have arrested a 19-year-old boy on charges of murder.

“We need to send out a strong message that the lives of our women and girls matter. We are not disposable and justice needs to deal harshly with anyone who takes the life of a woman or a girl in such a senseless manner, as in this case where the bright future of these two young girls has been prematurely stolen from them,” said Motshekga.

The Minister has once again called upon communities to work together to address social ills that are affecting mostly young people of school going age.

“We need to see all stakeholders playing a role in ensuring that the integrated strategy for school safety is implemented to protect our learners against perpetrators of violence as we have seen in this particular case and indeed others like it,” she said.

The national department said the province is set to follow up on the matter and put measures in place to ensure that similar occurrences don’t happen in the future. – SAnews.gov.za