MEC Expresses Regret after School Shooting

Media Release
03 February 2009

Mpumalanga safety and security MEC, Siphosezwe Masango, expressed regret on Tuesday over the killing of a pupil during a police shoot-out in a classroom.

"It is with regret that an innocent learner was killed while the police were doing their job at the school," said Masango in a statement.

Sedi Khoza, 17, was shot dead, allegedly by a police officer, in a classroom at the Manukose High School in Merry People Stream village near Thulamahashe on Friday.

Police were investigating the theft of a firearm which led them to the classroom. When one of the suspected thieves attempted to jump out of a window, a police officer fired at him. A bullet ricocheted and killed Khoza.

Police are investigating a case of murder and conducting an internal investigation into the police officer's behaviour.

Masango said that the police officer involved in the shooting has already been arrested and had appeared in the Mhala Magistrate's Court.

"Should the police be found [to have been] negligent in performing their duties, the law should take its course," said Masango.

Masango said it was "unfortunate that the police did not take precautionary measures".

"While we do not condone the shooting at the school, we want to thank the community for alerting the police about the firearms at the school. We encourage such partnership between communities and the police," he said.

The Democratic Alliance also expressed its concern on Tuesday over the judgement of police.

"The safety of learners should have been the absolute priority of the police officers. As such, the DA welcomes the probe being launched into this incident," said the party's Anthony Benadie and Clive Hatch in a statement.

The DA expressed its condolences to Khoza's family and called for action from the government to deal with weapons in schools.

"The DA believes that the department of education must implement an urgent school safety plan as well as mechanisms to detect weapons being brought onto school premises," the party said. - Sapa