Matric pupil shot in hand during school protest

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A grade 12 schoolboy is recovering in an East London hospital after being shot when police clashed with pupils at Byletts Combined School at the weekend. 

The shooting happened on Friday night after members of the school governing body (SGB) called police to the hostel, alleging pupils had barricaded the entrance to the school. 

The SGB were on night duty after the matron and headmaster reportedly downed tools over poor infrastructure, blaming pupils for broken windows, doors and ceilings.

It is alleged that when police arrived at the scene, tensions escalated.

Pupils, however, denied they had instigated it. They accused police of beating them, which is when they retaliated and threw stones at the officers.  

Shots were then allegedly fired, hitting 19-year-old Qhamani Pongoma in his left hand.

It is unclear if he was hit by a rubber bullet or live ammunition. 

The shooting incident at Byletts is one of two involving police and schoolchildren this weekend.

On Sunday night, Chulumanco Magadla, 18, who was said to be studying maths with friends, was shot dead, allegedly by Mthatha police.

Qhamani, under treatmentat Frere Hospital, missed hismaths literacy & computer applications technology exam.

The Pongoma family on Wednesday said they want justice for their son.

Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed the incident on the Byletts school premises.

He said the pupils had been left alone in the hostel on Friday night after the matron and headmaster left. 

Mtima said SGB members had offered to look after the pupils at night.

“The department has engaged and has 14 days to fix it [the infrastructure problems].

“The agreement was teaching staff would look after the learners during the day and the SGB takes over in the evenings.

“The learners barricaded the entrance to the school and started singing and throwing stones at anyone coming into the school, so police had to be called to calm the situation.

“The police fired warning shots to disperse the learners.”

Mtima said Qhamani would be given another chance to write exams. 

The pupil’s grandfather, Mbongeni Pongoma, from Amalinda, said pupils had informed him of his grandson’s shooting, but he had not been informed formally by the school.

“I was hurt and traumatised.

“I want to find out what exactly happened and we want justice ... All of this is happening during exams which he has missed.” 

A pupil known to the Dispatch said that on Friday after playing soccer, pupils gathered and sang songs (amagwijo) as the sun set. 

“At around 7pm, the SGB arrived and we went into the hostel and then continued singing while sitting in the formal lounge.

“We were later instructed by the SGB to go inside our dormitory. 

“Instead of us going inside, girls joined us in singing. After 25 minutes, the SGB went to the police station and brought the police.

“The police asked no questions and [allegedly] started to beat everyone.”

He said they were told to go to the formal lounge, where police attempted to lock them up. 

“They [allegedly] started to hit us again, we then ran and escaped and asked why we were being beaten.

“Then the learners picked up stones and retaliated. Then the police ran to their cars.

“One policeman was inside with a security guard and [allegedly] started shooting and hit Qhamani.”

An SGB representative, who asked not to be named,  confirmed that police fired two shots — but was unsympathetic. 

“Police were called to control the situation. On their arrival the pupils ran, while shouting and throwing stones at police, and two shots were fired to disperse them.”

She said they were going to monitor and spend the night at the hostel since the matrons were away.

Children’s rights activist Petros Majola said: “Police should have acted professionally and asked first what was happening.”

Majola said the SGB needed to be held accountable and the department should offer the pupil counselling.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel  Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed they were summoned to Byletts Combined School to attend to a complaint of violence.

“Police were confronted by a group of learners running amok, but they managed to stabilise the situation.

“Police are aware of the learner who was taken to hospital after an alleged violent commotion at the school.

“Police have spoken to his father, and as soon as he is discharged from hospital, a statement will be taken, and the investigation will resume.”

Meanwhile Chulumanco’s family is also seeking justice.

His grandmother, Nambitha Magadla, said: “We cannot accept the conditions under which he died. He was just murdered.

“Chulumanco was shot in the back and the bullet exited his chest. This shows he was not posing a threat to the officers.

“He was not a wanted criminal and there are no claims that suggest he committed an offence.

“All we want is answers. Why did they just fire on a group of schoolboys studying in a boarding house?

“He was staying in a nearby boarding house but visited another to join boys in a study group to prepare for exams.”

Earlier, one of the boys had celebrated his birthday, but they denied there was a party.

“We never have a party in the boarding house, we were just studying,”  a pupil said.

The boy said that after the shooting they thought that Chulumanco had run back to his boarding house.

“We only found his body at about 5am,” he said.

Magadla said a postmortem was conducted on Wednesday.

“We are preparing for a funeral next week on Saturday. We call for police management to take responsibility and assist us in the burial.”

She said Chulumanco had dreamt of becoming a doctor.

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