Sne Masuku

Sne Masuku

Bizarre incidents at several schools where pupils become violently hysterical are on the increase, forcing a principal in KwaZulu-Natal to call on religious leaders for help.

On Monday at Inanda's Suleman Patel Secondary School, several pupils were taken to hospital after they became violent, banged their heads against walls and assaulted anyone in their sight.

The school remained closed after parents chose to keep their children at home.

"While some pupils have been discharged from hospital, others have had to be re-admitted," said school principal Nonhlanhla Zulu yesterday.

"We believe this problem needs divine intervention, and that is why we have invited pastors to join us in a mass prayer."

Provincial department of education spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said officials were deployed to the school to advise the teachers on the way forward.

"This is not the first school where pupils have misbehaved, as though an evil spirit possesses them."