An eyewitness who had been preparing to guide children safely into the school grounds has given a chilling account of how she watched two gunmen flee the scene after killing a school teacher at Heinz Park Primary school Thursday morning.
The teacher, 53, has been identified as a Mr. Thulani Manqoyi, a grade six mathematics educator who had been at the school since 2008.
No one has been arrested and the motive for the killing is still unknown but the community leaders are baying for blood, calling for the death penalty, and a swift arrest.
Devastated parents, colleagues, and Walking Bus members gathered in and outside the school grounds while police combed the crime scene for clues. A shocked security guard rushed to the vehicle in tears and collapsed on the ground.
The Walking Bus member who cannot be identified for security reasons, spoke exclusively to the Weekend Argus, about how she had found the teacher dead inside his car moments after he had been shot.
“We are on patrol, we make sure the children go safely into the gates and fetch those still walking along the road,” she said.
“We were just at our point where we were taking the children in when we heard the gunshots. We then ran and when we came closer to the school grounds, we saw two people fleeing. They looked suspicious but we could not see who they were.
“We asked the security what happened? what shooting was it? Whether it was inside or outside. When we arrived at the car, as we had walked between the cars, we saw the teacher lying there, shot inside his car.
She said he was a strict teacher who cared a lot for his learners.
Fadiel Adams of the Cape Coloured Congress who also rushed to the scene said Mr. Manqoyi was a good man.
“He came here to teach and today he is dead. An entire school is traumatized. But look at the situation, look at Heinz Park and understand, why a young man from Heinz Park can think so little of life, look at the sewerage here in front of the school.
“There is absolutely nothing here for these kids. The circumstances do not change, nothing else will change and we will lose more people. Today it is a fact, the most sacrificing of professions, teachers, and doctors are no longer safe.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Andre Traut confirmed two suspects had fled the scene: “The circumstances surrounding the death of a 52- year-old man are being investigated after he was shot and killed in the parking area of Heinz Park primary school while sitting in his vehicle this morning at around 7:45 am.
“ Two unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
