Brutal Murder of Three Teachers at Ntabankulu Primary School

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is outraged by the brutal murder of three female teachers at Ntabankulu Primary School in the Eastern Cape, an act allegedly committed by a former Deputy Principal who had been dismissed following allegations of sexual assault against a learner. This tragedy shows the consequences of a state that consistently fails to decisively confront sexual violence in schools and protect those who expose abuse.

The fact that the alleged perpetrator had previously faced accusations of sexual assault, yet was still able to access school premises and carry out this massacre, is an indictment of the justice system and the Department of Basic Education. Even more disturbing are reports that one of the murdered teachers was a witness in the sexual assault case. This raises grave concerns about bail decisions, witness protection, and the reckless disregard for the safety of victims and whistleblowers in cases of genderbased violence.

This incident must be understood within the broader crisis of sexual violence against young girls in South African schools. The Eastern Cape continues to record alarming levels of teenage pregnancy, with a total of 396 learners between the age of 10-14 years who fell pregnant in the last reporting period. These figures are evidence of widespread statutory rape, much of it occurring within or around school environments.

Despite gender-based violence being declared a national crisis, schools remain sites of trauma rather than sanctuaries of learning for young girls.

The murder of these teachers also exposes the complete collapse of safety in public schools, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities. The EFF has repeatedly warned that austerity-driven budget cuts have led to the retrenchment of general workers, security personnel, and maintenance staff, leaving schools dangerously exposed. Through our #UmntanaEskolweni campaign, we have demonstrated how these cuts directly undermine the National School Safety Framework (NSSF), which exists on paper but is largely absent in practice, especially in provinces such as the Eastern Cape.

Learners, educators, and communities are now left traumatised, forced to confront violence in spaces meant to nurture education and dignity. The continued failure to implement comprehensive safety measures, psychosocial support services, and proper access control in schools amounts to state negligence.

The DA—led Department of Basic Education has merely focused on opposing legislation such as the BELA Act as opposed to applying the basics of urgently and fully implementing the NSSF, with immediate focus on physical security, access control, and trauma support for learners and staff. Schools must be protected as safe zones and not treated as expendable spaces within a failing system.

The EFF further reiterates our demand for an urgent review of bail conditions for individuals accused of sexual and violent crimes, particularly those involving women and children. The safety of victims and witnesses must take precedence over the rights and comfort of alleged perpetrators. Once again, the state must also strengthen witness protection mechanisms to ensure that those who come forward to expose abuse are not silenced through intimidation or violence.

The EFF extends its deepest condolences to the families, colleagues, and learners affected by this senseless act. We honour the lives of these educators and reaffirm our commitment to fighting for safe, dignified, and violence-free schools.

Supporters view the EFF as a necessary force for social justice and economic equality.

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