KZN teacher from Phikiswayo Primary School located in Ntuzuma was shot to death.

The Durban teaching community is reeling from shock and grief following the tragic shooting of a female teacher on Monday at Phikiswayo Primary School in Ntuzuma, a suburb located outside Durban. The horrifying incident has cast a shadow over the local educational fraternity, leaving colleagues, students, and parents in a state of disbelief.

According to a statement from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, the department is deeply distressed by the brutal act that claimed the life of a beloved educator. KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka expressed his profound sorrow and solidarity with the affected family and school community. “We are heartbroken by the loss of a dedicated educator. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and school community during this devastating time,” Hlomuka said, underscoring the emotional toll the incident has taken on everyone involved.

The department has strongly condemned what it describes as a “senseless act of violence” and has called upon law enforcement agencies to expedite their investigation to ensure that justice is swiftly served. The urgency of the situation was highlighted by the department’s immediate response, which included deploying a multi-disciplinary team to the crime scene. This team, comprising the district director, circuit managers, and representatives from the Special Needs Education Services (SNES), was tasked with providing crucial support and assistance to the bereaved family and traumatized school community.

In addition to offering support, the education department has made a public plea for anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist the police in their investigation. The collaboration between the community and law enforcement is seen as vital in bringing the perpetrators to justice and preventing such tragedies in the future.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the police in Ntuzuma are treating the case as a murder investigation. He provided a chilling account of the incident, stating, “This follows an incident in which a 46-year-old woman was allegedly shot and killed on the school premises at Richmond Farm in Ntuzuma on Monday morning. Information at the police’s disposal indicates that two unknown suspects fired several shots at the victim before fleeing the scene. The woman was declared dead at the scene.”

This tragic event is not an isolated incident. It follows a disturbing trend of violence in educational settings. In June 2022, a 28-year-old student teacher narrowly escaped death in a similar shooting incident at a school in Newlands West. Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala recounted that the young teacher was at his workplace on Riverdene Drive when he was attacked. Three unknown suspects shot him in the head, but miraculously, he survived and was rushed to the hospital. The case was classified as attempted murder, highlighting the ever-present dangers educators face in their line of duty.

The spate of violence against teachers has sparked widespread concern and calls for increased security measures in schools. Education stakeholders, including teacher unions and parent-teacher associations, are demanding immediate action to safeguard educators and students. The incidents have also prompted discussions about the underlying issues contributing to such acts of violence, including socio-economic factors, community safety, and the overall security environment within schools.

As the investigation into the Ntuzuma shooting continues, the education community is left grappling with the loss of a dedicated teacher whose life was cut short in a place that should be a sanctuary of learning and growth. The tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by educators and the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to ensure their safety and well-being.