Senior district officials from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education met with Centenary Secondary School management, teachers, parents, and stakeholders, on Wednesday, to determine what led to a violent altercation outside the school a day before.
KZN Education mediates parent meeting
The meeting is expected to address the events that escalated into a brawl that resulted in injuries and heightened tensions within the community.
In a statement, KZN DoE spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi confirmed that the department is investigating the incident and engaging with all involved parties.
“We will attend to all those issues. Whatever will be the version that caused and landed us where we are, we will attend to that,” he stated.
Officials have begun gathering facts about the situation, with law enforcement authorities also involved in the process.
The department made it clear that its priority is to restore calm at the school while ensuring that those responsible for escalating the violence are held accountable.
Parents have expressed concerns about the safety of their children following the incident.
While some are demanding changes in the school’s leadership, others are urging authorities to address broader issues contributing to the unrest.
Despite reports of parents fearing for their children’s safety, Mahlambi stated that learning at the school is continuing.
What happened at Centenary Secondary School?
The altercation at Centenary Secondary School in Asherville, Durban, occurred on Tuesday, with reports indicating that three learners were stabbed during a street fight outside the school.
Videos of the violence have since circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention.
Although not yet confirmed, allegations suggest that the conflict originated from an incident on Monday in which a black learner was reportedly threatened at knifepoint, forced to consume Xanax, and robbed.
Parents outside the school claimed that this led to teachers conducting searches on learners the following day, which in turn triggered confrontations within the school premises.
Some parents, speaking anonymously, alleged that certain students were angered by being reprimanded over their hairstyles and uniforms, leading to vandalism of school property, including the breaking of windows and doors.
At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, learners were dismissed, and parents were informed to collect their children. As students exited the school, two parents allegedly incited further conflict, escalating the situation into a street brawl.
One mother, who declined to be named, confirmed that her son sustained serious injuries and remains in hospital receiving treatment.
On Wednesday, a heavy police presence was observed at the school as frustrated parents and community members gathered, demanding that the principal, Douglas Gounden, address them.
Some parents have called for Gounden’s removal and a restructuring of the school’s governing body.
The DoE has condemned the violence, stating that acts of aggression and racial intolerance have no place in schools.
The department reassured parents that it is taking the matter seriously and working towards a resolution that prioritizes the safety and well-being of learners.