Police have called on residents of Bishop Lavis to come forward with information after a principal was stabbed by a masked assailant.
The assault occurred before the start of school yesterday, when Wayne Abrahams of Bishops School of Skills was repeatedly stabbed in the head, neck, shoulder and chest.
Community Policing Forum chairperson Graham Lindhorst said: “The assailants wore balaclavas when they attacked the principal.
"This is believed to be gang-related following an incident when a learner shot another in the leg last term."
He said the principal had received threats for continuing with disciplinary action against the pupil, and urged residents to help in apprehending the perpetrators.
The principal is in hospital and his condition was confirmed as critical but stable, said Lindhorst.
The provincial Department of Education condemned the attack.
The principal reported to the departmen the had received threats for continuing with disciplinary proceedings against a 15-year-old pupil who had allegedly shot a fellow pupil in the leg at the school in agang-related incident in March.
Department spokesperson Jessica Shelver said: “Any attack on a teacher or principal is completely unacceptable. We are currently monitoring the principal’s condition.
“Senior department officials, officials from Safe Schools and the South African and Metro police were on the scene.”
She said four additional security guards and two additional school resource officers from the Metro Police had been deployed to the school.
Trauma counselling would be provided to staff and pupils if required, Shelver said.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said police had responded to the attack and an attempted murder investigation was under way but no arrests had been made.* Police request anyone with information to call Bishop Lavis station at 021 935 9821 or Crime stop at 08600 10111.
In 2014, 15-year-old Rezaan Newman was stabbed to death on the last day of the school year at the Bishops School of Skills, allegedly by a fellow pupil.