Amid gang violence, Lotus River school calls for holiday protection to be extended

CAPE TOWN - The Lotus High School in Cape Town has requested the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to extend holiday security amid concerns of gang wars in the area.
 
The school principal, Stephen Price, said that the department provides extra security over the holidays to ensure the safety of schools and learners attending holiday classes.

According to Price, the school has experienced a low turnout of learners attending holiday classes due to ongoing gang violence in the area.

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At least 13 people have been killed in the last few days.
 
Price said schools in Ottery, Grassy Park, and Lotus River were at risk of being caught in the crossfire of gang rivals.
 
"Every hour there's another shooting... another person has died, another person is injured, and they are not gang or gangsters. This is sometimes, most times, just ordinary people," he said.
 
The principal added that if the department declined the request for extra security, the school would have to pay for the expenses.