Youth chair arrested after school protest confrontation

Gibson Mhaka

TENSIONS surrounding a police investigation into student protests over a Heritage Studies lesson at Phakamani High School in Plumtree, Matabeleland South Province, boiled over, resulting in the arrest of a National Youth Chairperson of the Mthwakazi Republic Party for disorderly conduct after he confronted and harassed the headmaster and police officers who were interviewing students about the matter.

This came to light when Mkhululi Jele (34) of Lakeview suburb appeared before Plumtree resident magistrate Joshua Nembaware, charged with disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in Section 41(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to 14 February for bail ruling. The court heard that on 3 February at around 9am, the accused, accompanied by an unknown adult male, arrived at Phakamani High School. They had heard that some students were being interviewed by the headmaster Nkululeko Vundla (57) and the police regarding a viral audio message of pupils protesting a Heritage Studies lesson.

The accused then intercepted the headmaster, who was with some students, as they were walking to his office. They asked why the interviews were being conducted without their parents present. One of the officers asked for privacy, and the accused complied.

While in the staffroom corridor, the accused began shouting loudly and walked toward the complainant’s office, demanding an explanation for why he had allowed their minor children to be interviewed by the police.

The accused reportedly banged on the complainant’s office door and entered without permission, demanding to speak to someone on the accused’s phone. The complainant refused.

The accused persisted with his demands, provoking the complainant, even after the complainant requested that he and his companion direct their grievances to the District Education Office.

The two officers present, realising that the accused’s conduct was causing a breach of the peace, contacted the ZRP Plumtree for backup. Sensing danger the accused then fled from the scene.

When police pursued him to his house, he reportedly locked himself inside to evade arrest. Police obtained a search warrant, which required them to break down his bedroom door before arresting him.