Gauteng MEC Applauds Police After Chaos at Tsakane Secondary School

Tsakane Secondary School in Ekurhuleni has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. What should be a place of learning has, in recent weeks, resembled a battleground of intimidation, threats, and outright violence.

On Thursday, police stepped in arresting five pupils and a parent allegedly linked to the chaos. Their intervention has been welcomed by Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, who praised SAPS for acting swiftly to restore order.

A School Under Siege

According to reports, the group of learners had turned the school environment hostile. From pelting stones at doors to setting fire to toilets during matric camps, their actions went far beyond mischief. Teachers and fellow learners were allegedly threatened with knives, while others were forced to hand over money and cellphones during school hours.

In one shocking incident, a learner previously suspended for attacking another student with a chair allegedly forced his way back into the school, defying disciplinary measures.

Even more concerning was the role of a parent accused of actively encouraging the unruly behaviour. For educators already living in fear, this blurred line between school discipline and home influence has left many shaken.

MEC: Schools Are Not War Zones

Chiloane has made it clear that Gauteng schools will not be allowed to spiral into lawlessness.

“We will not allow our schools to be turned into spaces of violence and intimidation,” he said, stressing that every learner deserves a safe environment and every teacher has the right to work without fear.

The department has also promised psychosocial support for pupils traumatised by the events, along with wellness programmes for teachers who have been directly targeted.

A Wider Social Problem

The arrests have sparked broader conversations about school discipline and community responsibility. Many South Africans online expressed both relief at the arrests and concern over how young people are being raised.

One teacher from a nearby school, commenting on Facebook, said: “We need stronger parental accountability. Teachers are no longer just educators they’re security guards too.”

Others pointed out that such incidents are not isolated. Across Gauteng and the country, schools are increasingly grappling with drugs, bullying, and violence spilling over from surrounding communities.

The Way Forward

While the police action may have brought temporary calm, the bigger question remains: how can schools and communities work together to prevent such disruptions in the first place?

For now, Chiloane is standing firm. “The swift action by police should serve as a deterrent,” he said. “We commend SAPS for their decisive response and assure the Tsakane community that order will be restored.”

But as social media commentary suggests, unless deeper issues of discipline, respect, and accountability are addressed at home, schools like Tsakane Secondary may continue to find themselves at the frontline of South Africa’s social struggles.

{Source: TheCitizen}

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