Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane and education MEC Fundile Gade have condemned the fatal shooting of three teachers at Ntabankulu Primary School, describing it as a devastating tragedy that has raised serious concerns about school safety and the protection of whistle-blowers. The teachers were killed on Thursday when a former deputy principal allegedly jumped the school fence, barged into the staffroom and opened fire before turning the gun on himself. Police identified the gunman as Ntuthuzelo Gcaba, 51, who had been dismissed by the education department for serious misconduct involving the sexual assault of a pupil.
Among the victims was Nontombizonke Nonkondlo, 52, a state witness in the sexual assault case against Gcaba, whose family has accused school management and the department of failing to protect her despite repeated warnings. Nonkondlo’s husband, Khanyiso, the chief operations officer at the Ntabankulu Local Municipality, said his wife had raised concerns since 2023 about the lack of department support while testifying against the former deputy principal. “She was left to deal with a traumatic situation alone, making her a target for violence,” he said.
He said the alleged assault had taken place in a classroom and had been reported by pupils to his wife, who then informed senior staff. “She was a witness in both the department case, which saw him dismissed in 2023, and the criminal case that was still ongoing. “But she went to court alone, without support from the school or the department, even though it was a work-related matter.” Khanyiso said Gcaba had denied wrongdoing and accused teachers of framing him.
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“The department made my wife a target. It created an environment where the accused felt she was leading a ring against him,” he said.
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