The teachers brutally killed in their rented room in Ga-Rankuwa have been described as best of friends whose personalities touched everyone at Lekgalong Primary School.
Brenda Kgatitsoe and Vuyile Mkhize became close friends soon after their employment in February last year.
They were shot dead allegedly by a boyfriend of one of them. He also shot himself dead in the room located in Ga-Rankuwa zone 1.
Kgatitsoe and Mkhize were made permanent teachers last June after impressing management and the school governing body at Lekgalong.
Kgatitsoe, from Winterveld, taught subjects including Setswana. Mkhize, who originated from KwaZulu-Natal, taught mathematics and technology.
“They were the best of friends and inseparable. At times they would wear matching clothes,” an insider at Lekgalong said yesterday.
“It’s so unfortunate that they died together.”
Their fellow young teachers and assistant teachers were the most devastated by the killings, the insider said.
“All our youthful teachers were so friendly to each other. The two were employed on the same day as the assistant teachers.
“I don't know what’s going to happen when the school reopens.
“Really, the situation is fragile. Everyone at the school that I have spoken to is devastated and shocked,” said the insider.
Forever willing to assist, Kgatitsoe and Mkhize were part of the committee organising the school’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
Lekgalong is one of the oldest schools in Ga-Rankuwa, a township located north of Pretoria.
“These two young teachers were everything you could ask for. Their passing is a huge loss,” said the insider.
“It is going to be so hard to replace them. It is so hard to find a Setswana teacher.”
The Star ascertained yesterday that the school’s principal has received hundreds of calls and messages from unemployed teachers after news about Kgatitsoe and Mkhize’s deaths broke.
“He’s received up to 300 calls and messages. Instead of consoling us, they are looking for jobs. It’s sad that while we’re mourning, we’re being bombarded with enquiries for vacancies.
“People have to wait for us to deal with the situation.”
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi expressed condolences to the families of the two teachers.
“We are devastated by this gruesome act of criminality that has taken the lives of two of our youngest and brightest educators,” he said.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said two cases of murder and an inquest docket have been opened.
“Police were called by community members who heard the gunshots inside the room. Police responded swiftly and found the room locked,” he said.
“Police broke the door open and found three bodies with gunshot wounds. It is suspected that the male shot the two females and shot himself.”
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