Following shocking scenes where scores of learners, mainly females, went on a frenzy on Thursday 11 August, members of the Langa Ministers Fraternal (LMF) held a special prayer at Khulani Secondary School in Langa on Friday 12 August.
The aim of the prayer was to bring back stability at the school and to ensure learners continued with their studies unhindered.
Learning and teaching was disrupted at the school when learners went on an uncontrollable behaviour spree and collapsed on the school grounds. Efforts by the school management and emergency workers to bring the situation under control were in vain. It remains unclear what started the wild behaviour.
In a video widely shared on social media, hopeless teachers could be heard calling for a divine intervention as emergency personnel tried in vain to manage the situation. “Andisoyiki Thixo wam, yhini Bawo,” a voice could be heard in the video, amid screams among learners and prayers from some members of the community. “Ngaske kuthandazwe. Ingathi kum ngumthandazo into efuneka apha.”
The day of mayhem continued until the situation died down, with some learners taken for medical examination and others taken home by their parents. This prompted local religious leaders to converge at the school the next day.
LMF secretary and leader of Grace Community Church Apostle Zongamele Baliso described the incident as shocking. He said they saw a need for a spiritual intervention and to chase evil spirits out of the school.
“There were much speculation around the incident. Some people were suspecting that the learners ate dagga muffins. While others said they saw a snake in the toilets. So, as church leaders our aim was to fight and chase away the evil spirits,” said Baliso, adding that they also wanted to remove fear among learners.
Spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) Bronagh Hammond said learners allegedly reacted to a spiritual calling. She said this led to several learners collapsing or reporting that they were feeling ill.
She stated that the WCED and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) were alerted of the incident. Hammond said EMS paramedics were dispatched and assessed several learners of which four learners were transported to a medical facility for further assessment.
“The parents of all learners affected were called and notified to collect their children. As a result of the events other parents have come to the school to collect their children,” she said, adding that the school didn’t close.
The WCED district team has arranged for counselling support to the school. “The necessary support will be provided to staff and learners. We have, as a result of other similar events occurring in the Western Cape previously, engaged with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport for a broader discussion on this and the management of it in our schools,” she concluded.