Residents in Joburg's Orange Farm worried about gangsterism trickling into schools
Gang leaders in the region are now focusing their attention on recruiting learners from schools, resulting in violence spilling over into these schools.
Thetha Secondary School pupils are searched upon entry on 17 April 2025, after a pupil was stabbed on the school premises on 14 April 2025 in gang-related violence at the Orange Farm school. Photo: Jacques Nelles/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Concerns over gangsterism are once again emerging in Gauteng’s murder capital of Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg.
For years, the area has been plagued by violence, leaving many residents fed up with the lack of policing.
Gang leaders in the region are now focusing their attention on recruiting learners from schools, resulting in violence spilling over into these schools.
Two schools had to be closed this week following gang-related stabbing incidents.
ALSO READ: Orange Farm matriculant concerned about gangsterism at his school
Thetha Secondary school in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, is one of two schools that had to be closed this week after a learner was stabbed on Monday.
It’s understood that on Friday a learner, who is gang-affiliated, was attacked by another learner from a rival gang.
On Monday, the learner who was attacked came to school with some of his gang members.
A matriculant from Thetha Secondary explained: "He came back to school with his friends carrying knives. When they got to the school, they made chaos and did what they had to do and ran to the office and did whatever they wanted to do."
A grade 11 learner was stabbed during the process and rushed to a local clinic.
According to community members, gangsters in the area are recruiting learners to distribute drugs.
POLICE LABELLED INEFFECTIVE
The Orange Farm community is frustrated about gangs terrorising people in the area.
According to sources in the region, the community has resorted to rallying together to deal with gang leaders, labelling the police station as ineffective.
Orange Farm recorded 69 murders between October and December, the most in Gauteng.
On Wednesday, a learner at Vulaindlela Secondary School in the area was stabbed several times in what the Department of Education has labelled as gang-related.
School governing body member Patrick Mahlambithe has blamed police for the situation.
“We have a lax kind of police station - ineffective, very ineffective. When you go there, they tell you that they have no resources to carry out their duties. Crime is getting high, and nothing much is done to curb crime, so that is the challenge we have.”