Two hitmen shot dead a female teacher while she was conducting prayers with pupils in Durban this morning.
The incident happened at Phikiswayo Primary School in Ntuzuma, outside Durban in KwaZulu Natal (KZN). The South African Police Service (SAPS) is still probing the reason for the brutal shooting of Dudu Khumalo.
The SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said cops in Ntuzuma have launched an investigation into the death of the 46-year-old female teacher:
“Information at the police’s disposal at this stage indicates that two unknown suspects fired several shots at the victim before fleeing from the scene. The woman was declared dead at the scene.”
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Eyewitness Accounts Of How The Two Hitmen Shot The Teacher Dead
A teacher at the school who wished to remain anonymous recounted the incident to Zimoja:
“A white car pulled up at the gate, and two unknown men jumped off and came straight to the school where we were attending the prayer session. There was no communication between the teacher and the two guys.
“They just went straight to her and shot her a couple of times. Everyone ran for cover and they walked back to their car and sped off. We don’t know why she was killed because she had no position at school but was an ordinary employee.”
MEC for Education in KZN, Sipho Hlomuka, said the department has sent the district director, circuit managers and representatives from the Special Needs Education Services (SNES) to counsel the pupils and staff members:
“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.”
Trend of Violence Against Teachers
The shooting of teachers is becoming an unsettling trend in schools. In April, four suspects shot dead a life orientation teacher, Palesa Mofokeng, while she waited to cross the road at a traffic light in Vanderbijlpark. SAPS detectives arrested the four in a raid targeting Soweto and Vereeniging.