Daily News reports that the principal of Villa Maria School in Bishopstowe near Pietermaritzburg was hacked to death in Table Mountain Road on Wednesday.  Nokuthula Magwanyana had left the school and was travelling home to Pietermaritzburg at about 4pm when she was attacked.  A police source said it was believed that Magwanyana was forced off the road by a group of men who had allegedly been threatening her and calling on her to resign as principal.  She suffered at least eight deep wounds to her neck, back and face.  The source said Magwanyana had recently opened a case of intimidation at the Bishopstowe police station, and speculated that this could be linked to her murder.  It is alleged that Magwanyana was told she would be killed if she did not resign.  An unnamed teacher at the school said that a small contingent of staff and parents were unhappy after Magwanyana’s appointment as principal in 2013.  

Magwanyana was an HOD before she applied for and was awarded the position of principal.  KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education spokesman Sihle Mlotshwa said they were “shocked and disturbed that one of their own had been killed in such a brutal and barbaric manner”.

• This report by Sherlissa Peters is at Daily News
• Read too, Family of slain KZN principal devastated, at News24

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page

Source: Latest News