The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed that the killing of two staff members on and off school grounds remains unsolved.
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According to police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk, Zuraya Barden and Thulani Manqoyi’s murder cases have gone cold.
Barden was shot and killed in April 2022 in her car in Kunene Street, Manenberg, in the presence of her six-year-old grandson. She was the secretary of the Park Primary School at the time of her murder. She was also reportedly a key witness in a case, according to IOL.
One year earlier, on 21 September 2021, Grade 6 teacher Manqoyi was also shot and killed in his vehicle while reading in the parking area of Heinz Park Primary School.
Van Wyk says both cases are ongoing even though no new developments nor arrests have been made. ‘We appeal to anyone with any information that can help with the investigation to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.’
The director of communication at the WCED, Bronagh Hammond, says only one fatality has occurred on school grounds in the past five years. He adds that six serious cases, including assault, robbery or attempted hijacking have been reported since 2019.
‘According to our Safe Schools records, there has been one fatal attack on an educator in school in the past five years. This was in 2021.
In 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, we recorded two serious cases in schools, and in 2020, three cases. Thankfully, these cases were not fatal. The numbers have reduced from previous years, with 10 cases in 2016, nine in 2017 and six in 2018,’ says Hammond.
‘Attacks are generally linked to cases of attempted robbery – either attempted hijacking or attempted robbery of goods (handbags/cellphones) in classrooms. Perpetrators gain access either when persons are entering or leaving the premises, or by scaling the school fence.
‘Current fencing projects do take into consideration the height of the fence, and its contribution to safety measures when constructed.’
In 2022, the WCED revealed that 33 serious attacks on teaching staff occurred on school grounds in the Western Cape, and one fatality in seven years.
‘Schools do have access control measures. However, as with any ordinary household, these measures can be compromised when the gate opens when a vehicle enters or leaves,’ adds Hammond.
‘Ultimately, our communities should be safe spaces and therefore, the role of law enforcement within that community is important to deter such crime.’
Risuna Nkuna of the South African Council for Educators told IOL that policies have been put in place to educate teachers on their safety, ‘The investigation is in the hands of the police, but teachers are equipped with a teachers’ handbook on what to do when they are attacked and protocols to be followed.’
Further to this, the Western Cape MEC of police oversight and community safety, Reagen Allen, has called for a breakthrough in cases. ‘The delay in these and similar cases is always regrettable.
‘The longer cases such as these take, the more families and loved ones suffer further emotional distress as they’re unable to find closure. I urge SAPS to continuously engage the families so that they are not left in limbo.
‘I also encourage community members who might have information on these cases to make it available to all law enforcement agencies, as we need the perpetrators behind bars.
‘We cannot have murderers who have no regard for life anywhere in our communities.’
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Picture: Bobby Nguyen / Pexels
