Dear Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile

We, the undersigned parents, guardians, alumni, and members of the public, stand in support of Pretoria Boys High School, its teachers, and its governing body following deeply concerning reports involving a learner who threatened a school shooting and named a teacher as his intended first target.

According to reports, the learner admitted during a disciplinary process to making the threat. Evidence presented to the disciplinary committee reportedly included discussions about obtaining a Glock firearm, videos involving firearms and marijuana use, and previous disciplinary interventions that had already been implemented by the school over several months.

After a full disciplinary process, the school governing body recommended expulsion, concluding that the learner posed “a material and ongoing risk to members of the school community.”

Despite this, the Gauteng Department of Education overruled the school’s recommendation and directed that the learner return to school under a suspended sanction and intervention programme.

As parents, we believe this decision fails to adequately prioritise the safety and psychological wellbeing of learners, teachers, and staff.

This petition is not about denying a child support, rehabilitation, or due process. Every young person deserves the opportunity for intervention and guidance. But schools also have a duty to act decisively when credible threats of violence are made — especially in a time when school violence and youth behavioural crises are becoming increasingly serious realities across South Africa.

Teachers cannot be expected to work under fear.

Learners cannot thrive in environments where threats of extreme violence are minimised.

School governing bodies cannot be expected to carry responsibility for student safety while being stripped of meaningful authority to act.

We therefore call on the Gauteng Department of Education to:

Respect and support school disciplinary processes in serious cases involving threats of violence; 

Prioritise the safety of teachers and learners when making disciplinary decisions;Provide schools with clearer powers and protocols for handling violent threats;

Ensure that intervention programmes for troubled learners do not come at the expense of broader school safety;

Engage transparently with parents and school communities on matters affecting learner and staff wellbeing.

Pretoria Boys High School followed a lengthy disciplinary process, implemented multiple prior interventions, and repeatedly raised concerns through proper legal and administrative channels.

Parents are not asking for cruelty.

We are asking for safe schools, protected teachers, and accountable decision-making.

A child’s right to education should never mean other children and teachers must live under fear.

Sign this petition to stand for safe learning environments in South African schools.

 

https://www.news24.com/southafrica/education/dont-forget-glock-pretoria-boys-pupil-who-threatened-to-kill-teacher-will-stay-in-class-20260524-0955