Students gagged over shooting - claim

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Published Oct 16, 2014

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Kimberley - Northern Cape Urban FET College students said they were coerced into signing confidentiality agreements on Wednesday, forbidding them to speak about an incident where a fellow student was robbed and shot while on an educational tour in Cape Town.

Some students, however, refused to sign the non-disclosure form.

“It is an unavoidable crime that took place, for which no one can be blamed. We do not know why we should be silenced or why it should be kept a secret. It is something that could happen to anyone at any time or place, so it cannot be considered bad publicity for the college,” the students said.

According to eyewitnesses, the shooting took place on Saturday, shortly before the students were due to return to Kimberley.

A group of students apparently wanted to visit the township and took a tour bus to Gugulethu on the last day of the tour.

It is understood that they were standing near the bus, waiting to collect food that they had ordered at one of the shisa nyama’s, when they were startled by a gunshot.

Apparently a student was taking photographs with his tablet when four men approached him.

“The suspects looked decent and were well-dressed. One of the men shot him (the student) at close range in the thigh, when he tried to run away, in the presence of all the other students that were standing in close proximity. The suspects stole the student’s camera and tablet.

“The students were terrified. All of the men were armed. Had they all opened fire, lives would have been lost.”

Eyewitnesses added that the student was hospitalised, while one of his close friends had to receive counselling as she was extremely traumatised.

The college principal, Dr Clifford Barnes, denied that any attempt was made to conceal the incident that took place during the College SRC’s educational tour that took place in Cape Town from October 7 to 11.

“The police are presently investigating the case. The college is not aware of any student being silenced about a crisis that could not be prevented,” said Barnes.

“This was a regrettable, unforeseen, unpreventable incident that unfortunately happened; hence it should not prevent our future annual student tours.”

Barnes indicated that the incident took place on October 11 as the students were about to return home.

“Prior to the trip, students were given their code of conduct and they filled in the indemnity forms.”

Barnes explained that the incident happened while students were waiting for their food at Mzolisi Take-Aways “when four men approached our student and demanded his iPad”.

“When he refused one of the four persons fired a shot at the student, wounding him on the thigh. After which they fled the scene with the iPad. No other student was injured during the incident.”

Barnes added that the police immediately rushed to the scene and called for an ambulance.

“The student was rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital and was operated on his thigh.”

Barnes stated that the parents were informed by the college about the incident and that they were in constant contact with the family.

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