Emeute étudiante à Nhlangano – juin 2010

Nyamane closed after student riots

observer.org.sz

10 June, 2010

NYAMANE High school was closed indefinitely yesterday – after violent students’ protest.
The police had to use teargas to disperse rowdy students at the troubled Nhlangano school.
Close to 100 police officers rushed to the school after the riots which are a culmination of a turbulent period in the school’s history – which was first sparked by the arrival of unwanted deputy principal, Patrick “The Horse” Matsebula.
Yesterday the 800 strong students vandalized classrooms and smashed windows as they went on the rampage, complaining that there were no lessons.
The school committee chairperson Mashumi Shongwe blamed the Ministry of Education for not addressing Nyamane’s problems on time.
Police Deputy PRO Assistant Wendy Hleta confirmed that police did go to the school to maintain law and order after the students riot.
She said she had not been made aware that teargas had to be used to disperse the students.

1 000 pupils go on riot

times.co.sz

By SIZWE MAZIYA on June 10,2010

NHLANGANO – Close to 1 000 angry pupils at Nyamane High School rioted and vandalised school property protesting about constant absenteeism by teachers.

The scenario unfolded from around 10am yesterday after break. The incident came after the school administration failed to convene a meeting with them to discuss their problems.

Pupils are said to have made it clear that they wanted an audience with the administration to address their problems bordering on absenteeism by some teachers. The pupils first attacked the Deputy Principal Patrick Matsebula, accusing him of forcing school prefects to sign declaratory forms on Tuesday. It is alleged that form II pupils started becoming rowdy, sang and chanted slogans while destroying school property.

The pupils according to a source were infuriated after teachers abandoned class on Tuesday and went to Manzini to hire a lawyer in their battle against the hiring of the deputy principal.

Some of the pupils claimed they were losing a lot of money in terms of commuting from home to school yet there were no teachers who conducted lessons.

Other pupils said they feared that the external examination would find them ill prepared. About 20 armed police officers from the Shiselweni Serious Crimes Unit (Lukhozi) and Nhlangano police station arrived at the school to calm the rowdy pupils who threw stones and vandalised school property. Also present were officials from the REOs office.