Senzo Mpalala, chair of the teachers union, Sadtu in the province has complained over the 12 year jail time given to a pupil who killed a Zimbabwean teacher after failing a grade. The teacher, Kingston Vhiya taught in Northern Cape and was stabbed to death by a Grade 9 pupil in his home.
Commenting on the sentence, Mpalala said:
Not so long ago someone was sentenced to life imprisonment for stealing and being in possession of rhino horns, yet this boy who stabbed and killed a professional teacher in cold blood was sentenced to only 12 years? Our justice system has failed us.
He further added that the union believes a life sentence was the befitting sentence for the pupil. Mpalala said:
He deserved nothing short of a life sentence. We had hoped he would receive a harsh sentence that was going to send a loud, unambiguous message that such acts are not allowed.
The boy doesn’t show any remorse, you can’t sympathies with someone like that.
Angeline Pahla, a fellow Zimbabwean teacher and friend said that she was shocked and frightened by the murder of Vhiya prompting her to relocate.
More: Mafaro