'I SAW MY TEACHER SHOT DEAD!'

I dived under my desk as the bullets started flying in the classroom.

WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER MY COUSIN WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR, BLEEDING. I WOULD NEVER SEE HER ALIVE AGAIN!

These were the chilling words of Nomfundo Nhleko (13), whose cousin, Elizabeth Nhleko (13), died after a shooting at Luvisi Primary School in Nquthu, KZN.

Daily Sun spoke to the visibly traumatised pupils, who said three gunmen entered the school premises on Tuesday, but only one came into their grade 6 classroom.

“After shooting our mathematics teacher, the man left the classroom and we ran outside,” Nomfundo said.

“We realised my cousin and another pupil had also been hit. I cried and wanted to go back inside to see how Elizabeth was, but teachers stopped me.”

Elizabeth’s gogo, Busisiwe Ntombela (47), told the People’s Paper that the girl knew she was going to die.

“We had never slept in the same bed or room,” gogo Busisiwe said. “But on Monday night she insisted that we sleep together. I think that was her way of saying goodbye to me. She was a quiet, smart young girl who got good marks at school.”

Teacher Vusi Ntombela (46) died in the classroom, while Elizabeth died later in hospital.

Another pupil, Bongumusa Cele (13), was also wounded. The situation was tense at the school yesterday.

Ntombela’s wife, Lihle, said that a week ago her husband told her that people wanted to kill him and Nquthu mayor Emily Molefe.

Ntombela was also the municipality’s speaker.

“He said there was a meeting set up for this coming Friday to discuss internal issues regarding leadership,” his grieving wife said. “I can’t say whether the killing is related to politics.”

Willies Mchunu, MEC for transport, community safety and liaison, said he was angered by what happened.

“I am extremely appalled at the brazenness of the suspects, firing gunshots in broad daylight in a school with innocent children there,” he said.

“We are also sad and angered that a pupil has lost her life while another was injured and the rest traumatised.”

KZN police spokesman Jay Naicker said three suspects were arrested and a firearm believed to be the murder weapon was recovered.

“The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage,” he said.

The suspects will appear in court soon.

Nomfundo, meanwhile, said she will never forget what she saw that day. “It will haunt me for the rest of my life.”