Student Killed While Intervening In Gang Fight

Chakalisa Dube | Monday November 5, 2018 15:36

The incident might once again spark debate on the safety of both teachers and students in schools, especially towards the end of the final examinations.

The deceased was a student at Semane Junior Secondary School. He was killed on Friday moments after he completed his final Junior Certificate (JC) examinations.

“From what we have established, the deceased was not related to any of the two gangs that were fighting. His friend was amongst a group of students who were fighting after the examination. The deceased was trying to calm down the situation when he was eventually stabbed by one of those who were fighting a gang associated with his friend,” Molese Molese of Serowe Police station said yesterday in an interview.

Molese revealed that the boy was stabbed with a sharp object suspected to be a knife on the left side of his chest.

Police said that they have not yet determined how many students were involved in the fight, but have arrested a 16-year old who reportedly stabbed the deceased.

“The matter is still very fresh and it is very sensitive because it involves minors hence we will not reveal more details for now,” said Molese when asked about the identity of the victim.

The incident comes days after Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) expressed worry that the government is not doing enough to create a safe environment for teachers and learners in schools. The Union concern came after one of the teachers was brutally beaten by a group of Form Five students at Matshekge Senior Secondary School.

The Union said students become very uncontrollable when they are about to complete their final examinations. This according to BOSETU warrants serious attention by government.

“There is need for the government to invest on strategies that can help improve the safety of teachers and students especially towards the end of the examinations. The teaching environment is increasingly becoming unsafe,” BOSETU spokesperson, Edwin Maitshoko said recently.

Meanwhile in Francistown, police have said that they are yet to make arrests in connection to an incident where Pep Stores (situated along the Haskins street) was broken into last week.

The thieves reportedly made away with money amounting to P80,000. Cell phones worth around P30, 000 were also stolen in the process.