The fatal shooting of a Tembisa school principal and an admin assistant has left families and residents grappling with unanswered questions, particularly after claims that a series of unusual events unfolded in the hours leading up to the attack. The killings took place on Tuesday at Inxiweni Primary School in Inxiweni Section, where 58-year-old principal Nozibele Thapu and 55-year-old admin assistant Nobantu Njomboni were gunned down by two unidentified men.
According to several residents, the day had begun like any other, with school staff reportedly preparing to finish work in the late afternoon. But the situation took a troubling turn after 4pm, when the principal had allegedly already left the premises. One resident revealed that Thapu “left the school around 4pm but returned shortly after receiving a call.”
Residents believe this call was pivotal. “It is said she received a call from the deputy principal about the missing funds and then had an altercation with the finance officer,” the resident said, speaking anonymously. It was moments after this alleged confrontation that chaos erupted.
“Not long after, someone came out asking for help to call an ambulance and police, saying the principal and admin assistant had been shot,” the same resident recalled. With the school security having already knocked off at 4pm, the gunmen were able to enter the premises without resistance, raising concerns about how they gained such easy access.
Another resident, who also declined to be identified, described the scene they found when they arrived at the school. “When we arrived, there were four staff members at the scene: the two deceased, the deputy principal, and the finance officer. The school security had knocked off at 4pm.”
From there, tension escalated dramatically when a woman alleged to be related to the finance officer arrived at the school. “She said the principal had earlier called her and mentioned a R59,000 transfer on Tuesday and another R60,000 transfer two weeks earlier. Police spoke to both women before leaving with them,” a resident said. Sowetan understands that the finance officer and the woman are family members.
These alleged unexplained transactions have sparked speculation within the community. Some residents believe the shooting may have been a targeted attack. One community member said: “We are assuming this could have been a hit on the principal, and the admin assistant happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
As the community wrestles with theories, Thapu’s family is searching for clarity. Her sister-in-law, Kwanda Thapu, questioned how the school’s security systems seemed to fail simultaneously. “It is too convenient that all security measures on the day were not working, no security [guard on duty], surveillance cameras off … why?” she asked.
For the Njomboni family, the shock has been compounded by the way news of the death emerged. Njomboni’s granddaughter, Busisiwe Mahlangu, discovered what had happened through social media. “To date, we still do not have information about what really happened,” she said.
Njomboni was a long-serving member of staff, believed to have worked at the school since the 1980s. Her brother, Zwelidinga, said the family was shattered. “We don’t know why my sister was killed in such a manner. I’m left all alone. She was my only sibling. We thought she was safe at school, the place she had dedicated most of her life to.”
Communities in Tembisa are still trying to process the deaths of two women who were widely known and respected. Ekurhuleni Ward 14 councillor Lindiwe Mnguni said the impact had been deeply felt. “The duo were committed individuals in their work at the school and community. The principal created job opportunities for unemployed residents. This school is one of the most disciplined in the area, so this is a shock.”
As speculation continues, police have made a breakthrough in the investigation. Gauteng police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that a 26-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday evening in connection with the murders. She was scheduled to appear in the Tembisa magistrate’s court on Friday. The motive behind the attack, however, has not been officially confirmed.
Meanwhile, Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona has referred all queries to the police, underscoring the seriousness of the investigation.
What remains are pressing questions about alleged financial irregularities, what prompted the principal’s sudden return to work after hours, and how gunmen were able to walk into a school where multiple security layers apparently failed at once. As families mourn and residents wait for answers, the community remains unsettled, searching for clarity about a tragedy that unfolded within a place meant to be safe.
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