Parliament, Sunday, 26 January 2025 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni, has condemned in the strongest possible terms the callous killing of Ekuthuleni Primary School principal Mr Jeffrey Sigudla in Wallacedene in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, in the Western Cape.
Mr Feni said what is alleged to have occurred has been a traumatic experience for all those who witnessed it, particularly for the young learners. “Law enforcement should spare no effort in finding the culprits of this heinous act and the reasons they committed it. School principals are vulnerable to these kinds of hits and this is becoming normal,” He said.
Media reports indicated on Wednesday that the primary school principal was shot and killed in front of members of the school community. The assailants remain at large. Mr Feni called on communities to jealously protect their schools and to come forward with information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
Mr Feni said: “This raises concerns about security issues around schools. We ought to strengthen security but that should not replace community vigilance on these challenges, as well as school vandalism.”
“As much as we do not know why this happened, people ought to remember that principals are appointed by the department and the school governing bodies on account of their competence in school management,” added Mr Feni.
Mr Feni said the committee sends its deepest condolences to the bereaved Sigudla family, their friends and the school community. “May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCES AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, MR MAKHI FENI.
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Name: Sibongile Maputi (Mr)
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E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
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