An enraged learner at Thohoyandou Technical High School went on the rampage, damaging a teacher's car and attacking its owner.

The incident, which is still the talk of the town, has shocked both learners and the teaching fraternity. It has also raised concerns about the safety of educators at their workplaces as similar incidents continue to occur.

The altercation, involving a 15-year-old girl, took place last Friday at around 08:30.

Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi confirmed the incident, stating that the girl was arrested for damaging the deputy principal’s car. She was charged with malicious damage to property and placed under the supervision of her parents because she is a minor.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect went to the deputy principal's office to report her missing calculator. A heated argument ensued between the two, and the suspect went outside and vented her anger by stoning the deputy principal's vehicle,” said Dathi.

According to Dathi, the police were called to the scene, and upon searching the girl, they found her in possession of a knife. “She was arrested and placed under her parents' supervision as she is a minor,” he added.

Mr Richard Ramabulana of the Vhembe Concerned Group, an organisation focused on fighting crime and promoting community rights, expressed concern about the increasing violence in schools. “We hear daily about unruly behaviour, with learners bullying each other and even engaging in obscene acts in front of their peers. Lately, they have also started attacking educators. We are comforted by the fact that arrests are being made, which may deter others from following the same path,” he said.