Motshekga condemns school shooting

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has condemned the shooting incident inside the school premises of a Soshanguve school where three people died.

According to reports, the incident happened on Monday at the offices of the Gauteng North Mental Health Care Centre at the Kondelelani Junior Secondary School, in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria.

A security guard, Itumeleng Dlamini, aged 35, allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend Rachel Moikabi following an argument. Moikabi, 26, was a social worker at the centre. During the incident a stray bullet shot and killed a bystander. Dlamini then turned the gun on himself.

"It is very saddening that this violent crime takes place inside a school yard, at a time when learners are writing their year-end examinations. We condemn all forms of violence in our schools and would like to remind our communities that schools should be safe places conducive to teaching and learning and not scenes of crime," Motshekga said on Tuesday.

Motshekga expressed condolences to the families of the victims and her appreciation to the swift action of the police. A double murder and suicide investigation had been opened.

She said the department was working with the Gauteng Provincial Department of Education to assess the psychological impact of this crime to learners and staff at the school, and provide them with the necessary counseling and social support.