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Terrified kids see teacher shot
24/04/2007 16:20 - (SA)
Mthatha - A class of eight-year-olds watched in horror on Tuesday as their teacher was shot dead in front of them.
The Grade Two teacher was shot dead by a balaclava-wearing gunman in front of the terrified pupils at Mount Frere on Monday.
Captain Zamukulungisa Jozana said the 30-year-old was teaching at Niyona Junior Secondary School at 11:00 when the man entered the classroom and shot her three times.
"He uttered no words, he just shot her."
Jozana said she was hit in the head and twice in the neck and died instantly.
The school is in the Mandileni administrative area.
Pupils extremely upset
The man, who fled after the shooting and could not be found, had not been identified yet.
The motive for the killing was still not known and a murder docket has been opened.
SA Democratic Teachers Union local branch secretary Mziwamadoda Gabela said the woman was a Grade Two teacher which meant her pupils were roughly eight years old.
"She was inside the class actively teaching - it happened right inside the classroom."
The incident was shocking for the pupils, he said.
"They were crying... a lot of them wet themselves... they were in shock and afraid.
"There was a pool of blood in the classroom just next to the blackboard where the teacher was lying. You can imagine it," said Gabela.
The gunman had arrived at the school and asked where the teacher's classroom was.
Youth League condemns killing
"After the shooting, staff stood in twos and threes "unable to figure out what was happening," said Gabela.
The ANC Youth League condemned the killing, saying there had been a rise of such incidents on school premises.
"Urgent action and drastic steps must be taken to restore schools as safe places," they said.
- SAPA
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