Terrified teachers at a high school where a pupil was hacked to death with a panga in full view of his peers are refusing to attend classes.

They are demanding that the KwaZulu-Natal department of education tighten security.

Sithandimfundo Secondary School in Inanda, Durban, has turned into a war zone with rival gangs taking their battles to school.

Teaching and learning has been brought to a halt after a pupil was ambushed and killed on Wednesday inside the school premises.

A teacher who spoke to Sowetan on condition of anonymity said the attack took place at assembly.

"Learners had just gathered in the assembly area when a group of about seven boys emerged. I believe they had been in the toilets. They started being unruly. In a split second, a fight broke out between two groups of boys.

"We rushed to try and calm the situation but faced resistance from the pupils, who were armed with knives," said the teacher.

"We then called for back-up but when we came back it was already too late. One learner lay on the ground, motionless and bleeding profusely. It appeared he had been struck by a sharp object on the head."

Frightened teachers have opted to boycott classes, saying conditions were not conducive for learning and teaching. "In fact teachers are traumatised and reluctant to enter classes," said the teacher.

The bloody battle was allegedly triggered by a gang fight that started last year between pupils from eMachobeni and those of Kwakhonkolo, all under the amaQadi tribal authority.

A gang member from eMachobeni was apparently attacked last month, leading to other members joining in to avenge his attack.

All opposing gang members are pupils at Sithandimfundo Secondary and have resorted to settling their scores at school.

Yesterday, the school governing body (SGB), education officials, police and local traditional leaders met to deliberate on how to quell the deadly violence.

"It is our view that ill-disciplined learners coupled with lack of security exacerbate the problem. These gangs are now running around the school harassing teachers, so we support their call to stay out of classes," said SGB chairman Sithembiso Mfayela.

SA Democratic Teachers' Union KwaZulu-Natal secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said teachers were stripped of powers to discipline pupils. "When the government abolished corporal punishment, teachers were left with no other alternative to discipline unruly pupils," she said.

Provincial education department spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said: "A team of officials was meeting with various stakeholders at the school to try and address the problems."

Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane did not respond to inquiries.

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