Call for safety at schools

Teacher Amandla Vinjwa is still recovering from a shooting at Sivile Primary School.

An awarding-winning Khayelitsha primary school teacher, who was shot at school two months ago, said he is still traumatised by the incident and that security at schools need to be beefed up.

Amandla Vinjwa was shot at multiple times at Sivile Primary School by a group of five armed men who attempted to rob him.

Mr Vinjwa said the incident happened just after 1pm on Friday March 16, after he concluded a training session with teachers at the school.

He said he was locking the school’s doors after completing the workshop with the teachers when the group of men ambushed him.

Mr Vinjwa said he was alone at the time as everyone had already left the school premises. “The rest of the bullets missed my upper body as I was on the ground already. I thought I was going to die. I still have flashbacks of the incident. I have no idea what the criminals wanted. I fear that I might not be able to walk (properly) again,” he said.

He was shot at four times but only one bullet hit him in his right thigh, damaging his nerve and leaving him unable to walk properly.

The 39-year-old is currently using crutches to get around and is recovering at home.

He, however, said doctors informed him that there was a 50% chance that he might recover the full use of his leg, if not he would have to use a walking aid for the rest of his life.

He said immediately after he was shot he fell down with the criminals continuing to shoot at him but it was through the grace of God that the other bullets narrowly missed him.

Mr Vinjwa said the criminals never took anything from him or the school. He said after they shot him they immediately fled the scene on foot after noticing that there was a police van patrolling around the area. He said the safety of teachers and pupils at school must be a top priority and he said there was a need to beef up security measures in schools.

He said the incident has left him traumatised and he doesn’t think that he would be able to conduct after school workshops anymore.

In an interview with Vukani, Mr Vinjwa said he had been appointed as the information and communication technology (ICT) champion at the school by the Department of Basic Education and was required to conduct ICT training workshops with teachers.

He said the programme was introduced by the department as a means of equipping teachers so that they could incorporate ICT into teaching.

Mr Vinjwa won the ISPA (Internet Service Providers’ Association) SuperTeacher of the Year award last year and he was also a provincial finalist at the national teachers’ awards.

He said last year he was among a group of teachers who got an opportunity to be part of a Microsoft Global educators exchange in Canada.

Mr Vinjwa started teaching at Sivile Primary School in 2010 and he was also a certified Microsoft educator. He said he was passionate about technology and he strongly believes that it was crucial that teachers incorporate technology in their teaching methods. He alleges that even the counselling that was provided by the department was not sufficient. He claimed that he had to find ways of getting to doctor’s appointments even though he was injured on duty.

Mr Vinjwa said a case was opened at Khayelitsha police station but no one had been arrested yet.

Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for MEC for Education, Debbie Schäfer, said they are aware of Mr Vinjwa’s incident. She said it was a flesh wound that penetrated the leg with no vital parts injured with a clear exit.

Ms Shelver said Mr Vinjwa was rushed to the Gatesville Melomed Hospital and discharged two days later.

“The educator still experiences mobility problems and has been medically unfit for duty since the incident. The principal has completed a PILAR (Policy and Procedure on Incapacity Leave and Ill-health Retirement) leave application as well as the injury on duty application in consultation with head office.The principal initially reported experiencing many delays in getting all the paperwork completed due to availability and feedback from the educator concerned,” she said.

Vukani asked Ms Shelver if the department will be implementing improved security measures at the school, but she didn’t answer this question.