#JusticeForNtokozo: Curro Academy faces backlash after school stabbing

Tension and fear have gripped Curro Academy after an alleged stabbing incident on school grounds left a Grade 11 pupil injured and raised serious questions about the safety of learners. The incident, which reportedly took place last Friday, involved a Grade 9 pupil allegedly stabbing an older learner three times in a school bathroom during school hours.

In the days following the attack, pupils at the school launched a petition calling for the removal of the principal. They claimed that the school’s leadership failed to act appropriately. The petition, which has now gathered more than one thousand signatures, circulates online under the hashtag #JusticeForNtokozo. It accuses the principal of putting the school’s reputation above the welfare of its learners.

"He did not want the boy’s parents to be called. After the incident, he acted like nothing had happened. He was worried about the school’s reputation and not the learners’ safety" the petition states.

Pupils also described a broader culture of inaction at the school. They claimed that violent incidents happen frequently but are rarely addressed effectively by management. Many said they now feel unsafe and unheard.

The situation has sparked widespread concern among parents and the local community, who are demanding transparency and accountability. Many argued that schools have a duty to ensure the safety of pupils and to respond quickly and properly to violent incidents. The alleged handling of this stabbing has intensified fears that the school may not be prepared to protect its learners.

When approached for comment, Curro Academy declined to speak to the media and referred inquiries to the head office. In a statement seen by Sowetan, Johannes Mahlatsi, executive head of the institution, explained that a planned meeting with parents and guardians had been cancelled to allow an ongoing investigation to proceed under the guidance of law enforcement.

"Good day, parents and guardians, the investigating officer has requested that no communication should be handled based on the incident that happened on Friday. Therefore we are cancelling the meeting" Mahlatsi wrote in an email to the school community.

This is a developing story.