Teaching at a Durban school was disrupted yesterday and today amid a wave of hysteria as pupils claimed they were being possessed by evil spirits.
Durban Girls’ Secondary School in Dartnell Crescent, Greyville, was closed again today because of further disruptions.
Police, who were called to the school yesterday, cordoned off the road as some pupils were reportedly seen running wildly across it soon after 10am.
Some were rolling on the pavement.
The school’s governing body chairman, Sam Kikine, who arrived later, confirmed that the pupils were hysterical.
“The incident affected a few pupils from three classes. It started in one class and jumped to another,” Kikine said.
At least two local church pastors were called in by school authorities to pray for the girls, whose parents were also contacted.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education instructed the school management to close the school and dismiss the pupils for the day.
Its spokeswoman, Mbali Thusi, said religious leaders from different denominations would also be asked to pray at the school. “The department would then consult with parents on a way forward,” she said.
Police spokesman Captain Khephu Ndlovu said that when he arrived at the school, pupils were screaming and crying inside and outside the school.
“A group of pupils was praying for another pupil who was screaming on the pavement outside the school,” Ndlovu said.
“The road was cordoned off for control purposes. Police were there to monitor the situation.”
A pupil who spoke to the Daily News said she felt dehydrated and could feel strange movements in her stomach.
Anthony Pierce, the chief executive of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA in KwaZulu-Natal, who visited the school during the incident, said department officials must meet staff and give them psychological help.
“Teachers were terrified after the incident,” he said.
“After that they need to meet with pupils. Officials need to unearth how the incident started.” - Daily News