Classes were abandoned at Melisizwe Primary School in Motherwell on Friday after staff were sent for counselling following an armed robbery on the premises on Thursday.
All 28 staff members consoled each other at the department of education support programmes premises in Park Drive on Friday, while undergoing counselling to try to come to grips with the traumatic ordeal which saw staff and pupils held at gunpoint.
The robbery, which took place at about 11am on Thursday, involved three men who approached the school’s security guard, Zisanda Citwa, requesting access to the school – through the front gate.
Citwa said the men claimed to have an appointment with the principal. However, when she said she would have to confirm with the secretary, the situation escalated.
One of the men showed Citwa a firearm lodged in his pants and forced her to open the gate and escort them to the reception office.
“It was terrifying, they looked like they knew exactly what they were coming for,” Citwa said.
“The secretary told them she doesn’t have the key, so they took our [two] cellphones and the school laptop before threatening the children.
“It was only the secretary and myself in the actual office with the three guys but many of the teachers were nearby and could see what was happening,” Citwa said.
A grade 3 teacher who witnessed the ordeal unfold described it as “15 minutes of pure hell and chaos”.
“We have all been left very distraught and fearful to return to the school,” said the teacher, who asked not to be named.
“This is not the first time a teacher has been robbed on the school premises, but it is the first time it has happened at gunpoint. The gunman pointed the gun at the pupils and said in isiXhosa ‘leave the school so we can deal with them [teachers’.
“The situation won’t improve any time soon, as the school’s perimeter fencing [on the side of the school] was stolen a long time ago.
“Criminals have free access to the school and easily come and go as they please.”
She said after the hold-up, all of the 1,100 pupils were assembled, briefed about what had occurred and sent home with the instruction to return to school on Monday.
However, a grade 7 teacher, speaking outside the depart- ment’s Park Drive premises, said it would be hard for the school to resume as normal next week.
“It is still fresh in everybody’s minds. They [suspects] now have an idea as to what else is at the school and they will return.”
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said a case of robbery was being investigated.
Department of education spokespersons Malibongwe Mtima and Loyiso Pulumani failed to respond to the questions posed.