ZANDONDO TEACHERS FLEE AFTER THREATS OF ATTACK

PIGG’S PEAK - Over a week ago, Zandondo High School was considered safe such that the school did not even have a security guard during the day, but this has since changed.

On Tuesday night, teachers from the school as well the primary fled from their houses after alleged threats that they would be attacked. The teachers are said to have left between 9pm and midnight. They allegedly fled with their children in fear that they could be the next victims. There were threats that some residents were planning to burn their houses during the early hours of yesterday.

Incident

The alleged threats followed a recent incident in which a pupil at Zandondo High School, Njabuliso Vilakati, was kidnapped in full view of others. He was assaulted by men wielding bush knives and an axe. He was then tied up and taken to his parental home where houses had been set alight. He was then thrown into one of the burning houses after being accused of practising witchcraft. He died from the incident. The following day, police officers arrested nine people, including a son to the chief’s area. It is alleged that some of the residents were angry about the arrest and blamed some teachers for giving descriptions of the accused to the police. They accused the teachers of fingering the people who ended up being arrested. It is alleged that some residents informed the teachers that an attack was being planned in the early hours of yesterday.

Upon hearing this, the teachers are said to have grouped  and decided to leave the area. The affected teachers are said to have been those who lived at the school’s quarters. Teachers from both the high and primary schools are accommodated at the same place. Some of the residents also confirmed this. They said the teachers were being referred to as timpimbi, meaning police informats. They said the residents were angry, especially because the mother of the boy who was allegedly killed managed to escape. It is alleged that she was the target when they stormed her homestead, which is about a kilometre away from the school.

Escaped

She is said to have escaped with another of her children. Teachers who spoke on condition of anonymity said the situation was still tense and unpredictable. They said their only hope was when the residents met and discussed this issue. Yesterday, there were only five teachers at the high school including the head teacher. The school has about 17 teachers. This meant that about 12 teachers did not show up yesterday.  Further, some of the teachers at Zandondo Primary School did not show. The absence of some of the teachers affected classes at both schools. Police officers are said to have been roped in in the morning yesterday. They maintained order at the school and provided security until the Form III pupils finished writing their examinations.

The head teacher could not be reached for comment on the matter but this publication gathered that the incident had also been reported to the Hhohho Regional Education Officer (REO), Thuli Ngwenya. She was called on her cellphone but it rang unanswered.

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