Gang violence disrupts learning and teaching in Lotus River
The community alerts claim gangsters may retaliate against learners who have gang-affiliated family members, after a man was shot dead in Lotus River on Wednesday morning.
Picture: Pixabay.com
CAPE TOWN - Teaching and learning in Lotus River have been disrupted by the threat of gang violence.
Some parents have scrambled to fetch their children early from school, and scholar transport services also left earlier than usual after warnings in WhatsApp messages.
The community alerts claim gangsters may retaliate against learners who have gang-affiliated family members, after a man was shot dead in Lotus River on Wednesday morning.
The Western Cape Education Department has confirmed that schools in the area have been directed to close as a safety precaution.
The department's Bronagh Hammond, however, warns parents must wait for information from trusted and official sources.
"Parents are encouraged to stay in touch with their schools for confirmed information and to not share messages on social media that do not originate from official sources."
A source close to the affected school has told EWN that at least two police vehicles have been patrolling the grounds.
“So, but the fact that they're going to target the school, I cannot say that's true. What I can also say is that one of them, but I know most of them in the area, the one who was standing opposite the school, I have asked him to, if he can just move away.”
Earlier, police also requested that all schools in the area dismiss earlier than usual.