• Minister promises heavy police presence so children from fighting villages can return to school.

• 28 People were killed in fighting that started with a deadly school stabbing which spread to Gauteng hostels.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has promised to send more police to protect school children caught in the middle of deadly village fights in Nongoma, northern KZN.

Mchunu made this promise on Saturday when he met people from Onyango village. He was meant to meet both the Onyango and kwaMusi communities, but kwaMusi villagers stayed away, fearing for their lives.

The fighting started at Sihlahlasenkosi High School when one pupil stabbed another to death. It then spread to family feuds between the two villages and even escalating to hostels in Gauteng.

About 50 matric pupils from Onyango village had to stop going to Sihlahlasenkosi High School, which is in kwaMusi village, during their final exams. The education department had to make special plans for them to write elsewhere.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the minister will meet the kwaMusi community separately.

“It was agreed that learners will go back to school and there will be serious police visibility to calm the situation. The community of Onyango committed to work with the police to bring peace in both villages,” he said.

The violence has already claimed 28 lives.

Pictured above: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu deployed a heavy police team to help learners of fighting villages to return to school.

Source: X