Tembisa school killing sparks urgent visit

The City of Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza will on Thursday lead a delegation to Inxiweni Primary School in Tembisa following the fatal shooting of the school principal and an administrative assistant.

The visit comes after a violent attack on Tuesday which claimed the lives of Principal Ruth Nozibele Tabu 58, and Administrative Assistant Nobantu Njombini 55, inside the school administration block.

Xhakaza will be accompanied by the MMC for Community Safety Sizakele Masuku and the Acting Chief of Police Brigadier Ockert Bezuidenhout. According to the City the delegation will meet the school leadership to offer support and to assess immediate safety concerns. The City said the engagements will assist in outlining a coordinated response involving law enforcement and education authorities as investigations continue.

The shooting has shocked the local community and raised concerns about safety on school premises. Preliminary information indicates that masked suspects entered the administration block after school hours and opened fire before fleeing. The motive remains unclear and no arrests have been made. Gauteng police are investigating a double murder case.

A source close to the investigation alleged that another staff member at the school may have been involved in organising the hit. Police have not confirmed this claim and stated that all information remains under investigation. Authorities have appealed to anyone who may have relevant information to come forward.

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety also reacted strongly to the incident. The Committee described the shooting as a horrific act carried out in a space intended for the safety and development of children.

Committee Chairperson Bandile Masuku said the killings highlight the severe impact of gun violence across Gauteng. Masuku said educators, learners and school staff should never have to fear for their safety while performing their duties. He said the Committee condemns what happened in the strongest possible terms and added that it is unacceptable that families continue to lose loved ones to violent crime.

Masuku said the tragedy again brings attention to the urgent call for a gun free Gauteng. He stated that firearms continue to play a central role in violent crimes in the province and that reducing the number of guns in circulation is essential to preventing similar incidents. The Committee urged law enforcement agencies to intensify operations aimed at removing illegal firearms from communities and dismantling the networks responsible for distributing them.

Masuku also called on the public to assist police by reporting any information that could help identify and arrest the perpetrators. He said coordinated action is necessary if the province is to move closer to the vision of a safer society.

The Committee extended condolences to the families of the victims and to the broader school community. The incident has left learners, educators and parents traumatised as they grapple with the loss of two staff members who were well known within the school.

Meanwhile South Africans reacted to the shooting on social media. One user on X wrote that the targeted nature of the attack suggested it was a planned hit and not an opportunistic crime. Another user speculated about possible motives mentioning internal disputes or personal issues. These views remain unverified as the investigation continues.

Police have urged the community to allow the investigation to proceed and to avoid spreading unconfirmed information.