The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) is expressing its sincere condolences to the teachers, staff, learners, and the family of Comrade Sipho Nhlengedwa, the Deputy Principal of Rivoni Secondary School. He was shot dead on Tuesday, a few kilometres from the school in Daveyton.

According to police reports, the 51-year-old deputy principal left the school on Tuesday morning in his vehicle and collected an unknown person at the school’s gate. Both him and the unknown passenger alighted from the vehicle on Vivian Drive in Daveyton and walked for a few meters. He was then shot and killed. Police are looking for the passenger.

According to the local leadership of SADTU, an unknown man arrived at the school at 6H30am carrying an envelope and asked for Mr Nhlengedwa. When Mr Nhlengedwa arrived at the school at about 7:45am, the unknown man was shown Mr Nhlengedwa by the patrollers. Mr Nhlengedwa and the man then engaged. They then left the school premises in Mr Nhlengedwa’ s car.

A short while later, many in the school were left in shock when they saw Facebook posts bearing a picture and messages that Mr Nhlengedwa had been brutally murdered at a squatter camp in the area.

The killing of Deputy Principal Nhlengedwa, which happened amid preparations for final year examinations, has left the both the learners and teachers traumatised. As a result, no effective learning and teaching took place today (Wednesday) and the school had to close early.

SADTU is calling on the police to leave no stone unturned in investigating the death of deputy principal Nhlengedwa. He is the second educator to be shot and killed in Daveyton this year. The first was Unitas Secondary School teacher Serake Mogoswane who was shot in April. He was heading the school’s commerce department. His murderers are still at large.

ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat

CONTACT:

General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke: 082 783 2968

Deputy General Secretary, Nkosana Dolopi: 082 709 5651

Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi: 082 719 5157