Chaos and mayhem reigned on the grounds of a Welkom school on Friday, 16 August, when learners from another school breached the perimeter fence and caused serious damage.
It is rumoured that one child from the school that was infiltrated had to be hospitalised, and that another child was doused with petrol and his attackers attempted to set him alight.
Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police, confirms the incident.
The anarchy was sparked when a group of learners from the one school in Volks Road infiltrated the school in Falstaff Street, Bedelia.
“Apparently the school management team refused the commemoration session (40 days), and then the learners got out of control, They left the school premises, and flooded the streets in the Welkom CBD. From there, they ran to the school in Falstaff Street. The school gate was locked, and was damaged to gain entry,” says Thakeng.
Welkom Public Order Policing (POP) were summoned to the scene.
“They verbally warned the learners to stop being disruptive and impeding the nearby traffic. They did not heed the police warning.”
The police arrested and charged 27 learners for malicious damage to property and public violence. They were released on the same day.
