Teachers abandon school after goblin attack

GRADE Seven pupils at Mbizingwe Primary School in Umzingwane District have gone for more than two weeks without learning after their teachers abandoned them, following alleged goblin attacks.

The Grade Seven teachers, Mr Mduduzi Gumbo and his wife, only identified as Mrs Gumbo, allegedly fled the school after they were attacked by the unseen beings.

According to villagers, the goblins initially attacked the Gumbos at a tuckshop outside the school which they had turned into their living quarters.

"When they moved to a cottage within the school, the goblins followed them. People claim they saw the two being attacked by stones thrown by unseen people. They were then moved to a nearby homestead and once again the goblins followed them," said a teacher at the school who preferred anonymity.

When a Sunday News crew visited the school on Thursday, teachers said there was nothing much they could do as they were afraid of the goblins.

They revealed that Grade Seven pupils would eventually be transferred to another school as they were not learning.

"This is a sad situation because it has now affected the pupils in their studies. These teachers were living in a tuckshop which is less than 300m from the school. They came to look for accommodation at school saying the tuckshop is no longer conducive for them as they were being attacked by unseen creatures which violently threw stones on top of the roof.

"They were given a cottage to use at the school. However, those things followed them and started throwing stones at school. It was in the afternoon but we could not see anything except stones that were being thrown. This happened continuously until the headmaster asked Gumbo and his wife to go and live at his homestead which is about two kilometres from school. We understand that the unseen creatures followed and terrorised them at the homestead," said a teacher at the school.

The village development committee chairperson in Mbizingwe, Mrs Sally Dube, said the villagers had conducted a meeting with the teachers to map a way forward.

"We had a meeting recently because we are concerned about our Grade Seven children who are not learning at the moment. Most villagers were opting for the teachers to be transferred from this school and look for other teachers to take over. We are still waiting to get a feedback from the headmaster who took the matter to other educational officials," she said.

When a Sunday News crew approached Gumbo to get a comment, he referred them to "school officials".

"As of what is happening at my work I think the school officials will explain to you in a better way," he said.

Mr Zilundu Sibanda, the school head, declined comment, saying he was not allowed to talk to the Press.

Chief Gwebu of Umzingwane District confirmed receiving a report about the teachers being affected by goblins.

"I received a report about this and they told me the challenges that they are facing at their homestead. What I also understand is that they need someone to help them from this trouble. The people who are willing to assist this family should have a licence to prove that they are allowed to cleanse people because we do not want to be against the law," said the chief.