Several videos were shared online showing Effingham Secondary learners clashing with law enforcement earlier this year. Image: Screenshot
Effingham Secondary: Durban Metro Police deny brutality allegations
Durban Metro Police have denied allegations of brutality following a clash with Effingham Secondary School on Thursday.
Several videos were shared online showing Effingham Secondary learners clashing with law enforcement earlier this year. Image: Screenshot
The Durban Metro Police Service has refuted allegations of brutality levelled against its members following an incident at Effingham Secondary School.
Several videos of Effingham Secondary School learners clashing with law enforcement went viral showing a girl learner being dragged by the law enforcement officers and one of a boy learner being pointed at with a rifle. The chaos reportedly ensued on Thursday.
DURBAN METRO POLICE REFUTE BRUTALITY CLAIMS AT EFFINGHAM SECONDARY
Durban Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Parboo Sewpersad said personnel responded to a panic call that learners were fighting.
Sewpersad said SAPS, Metro and Private Security personnel were called out to attend. One security member tried to forcibly arrest one of the learners and one of the metro police members intervened to separate the two.
“We can confirm that the person seen in the video holding and pointing a firearm is not from Metro Police.
“The rifle in the video is an AR with a red sight. Metro Police do not issue such rifles. The reflective jacket worn by the person is also not that of Metro Police. The situation at the school was subsequently diffused.”
Parboo Sewpersad
CLASSES SUSPENDED UNTIL MONDAY
Following the chaos that ensued on Thursday, classes had to be suspended at Effingham Secondary. An urgent parents meeting was expected to be held on Saturday, 21 May at the school.
In one of the videos, a female learner was manhandled by the law enforcement officers while she is dragged down a street and another learner was pointed at with a rifle.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu said he has assigned a two-member team to attend the situation of police brutality against learners at Effingham Secondary.
“Legal services have been directed to assist in opening criminal cases against the person pointing a rifle to learners,” Mshengu said.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Rifle pointed at Effingham Secondary learner amid chaos
