'Witch' teacher sparks riot

2006-03-14 18:18

Riot Hlatshwayo

Nelspruit - High-school pupils who accused a teacher of bewitching them ran riot on Tuesday after Mpumalanga education officials and the school governing body refused to dismiss her.

Police had to use teargas and fire rubber bullets to disperse rampaging pupils at Z B Kunene Senior Secondary School in KaNyamazane outside Nelspruit, and release teachers who had been held hostage in the staffroom.

"We received a call about a hostage situation at the school and when we arrived pupils started throwing stones at us," said Constable Floral Hlatshwayo of KaNyamazane police on Tuesday.

The pupils damaged two police vehicles and injured two police officers. Several pupils were also injured and had to be treated at the local clinic.

Hlatshwayo said the pupils also tried to block the road leading to the school gate with large rocks and burning tyres, but police were able to get through and rescue the teachers.

Hlatshwayo said: "We don't know what prompted the pupils to suspect her of witchcraft."

Ehlanzeni regional director of education Mfana Lushaba had been appointed to investigate the situation at the school, said Jasper Zwane of provincial education on Tuesday.

Zwane was unable to say if schooling would return to normal on Wednesday.

- African Eye