Key Takeaways
- Pupils at Edward Phatudi Secondary School report seeing an owl and finding dead rats, which they interpret as signs of evil spirits causing recent deaths.
- Students and parents are pleading for spiritual healers—especially reality‑TV healer Thembi Nyathi—to cleanse the school and alleviate fear.
- Parents blame the school leadership, demanding the principal’s removal and calling for powerful prayers to address the perceived spiritual attack.
- Community youth leaders suggest alternative explanations, such as food‑poisoning from expired canned goods, and highlight poor communication between families and the school.
- The Gauteng Department of Education acknowledges the tragedy, confirms five pupil deaths in 2026 (attributed to accidents, natural causes, and suicide), and has dispatched psychosocial support teams.
- While spiritual interpretations dominate the narrative, officials stress that the cause of the most recent death remains unknown and urge evidence‑based investigations.
Pupils Describe Terrifying Owl Sightings
Learners at Edward Phatudi Secondary School say they have repeatedly observed an owl perched on the classroom roof. A Grade 10 pupil recounted that the bird appeared “not once but on several occasions,” behaving in a way that felt intimidating rather than merely avian. The students insist the creature is not an ordinary owl but an evil omen, describing its presence as a source of dread that makes them reluctant to enter classrooms or the school yard. Their fear is amplified by the belief that the owl is linked to a darker spiritual force affecting the school environment.
Reports of Dead Rats Fuel Spiritual Anxiety
In addition to the owl, pupils report finding dead rats scattered around the premises. A Grade 11 learner explained that the discovery of these carcasses has intensified their sense of being “bothered by strange rats,” which they also attribute to malign spiritual activity. The combination of the owl’s unsettling presence and the rodent deaths has led students to conclude that the school is under a “dark cloud,” prompting urgent pleas for intervention from spiritual practitioners who they believe can cleanse the premises of negative energies.
Students Call for Spiritual Healers, Naming Thembi Nyathi
The learners have explicitly requested the assistance of Thembi Nyathi, a spiritual healer featured on the reality show Dloz’ami broadcast on Moja Love (DStv Channel 157). They argue that only a powerful spiritual cleansing can dispel the alleged evil spirits responsible for their distress. By naming a televised healer, the pupils hope to draw public attention and mobilize resources quickly, emphasizing their desperation and the perceived inadequacy of ordinary school authorities to address the supernatural threat they perceive.
Parents Voice Anger and Demand Leadership Change
Parents have echoed the children’s fears, expressing deep anguish over the loss of pupils and accusing the school leadership of neglect. Selina Mahlanga urged the community to organize “powerful prayers” and called on women to petition God against the alleged evil attack. Rose Malatsi went further, demanding the principal’s removal and insisting that the matter be resolved swiftly so that children can return to a safe learning environment. The parental sentiment reflects a blend of grief, frustration, and a belief that administrative change is necessary to restore peace.
Community Meeting Highlights Alternative Explanations
On Thursday, 30 July 2026, a meeting was convened at the school involving parents, community leaders, and youth representatives. Lesego Mhlanga, ward 68 youth leader and founder of Next Gen Youth Development, suggested that food poisoning might be behind the recent deaths, noting that expired canned foods had been discovered dumped on school grounds. He emphasized that poor communication between parents and the school has exacerbated mistrust and urged a more transparent dialogue to address both health and safety concerns effectively.
Recent Tragedy: The Death of Nomthandazo Wethu Ndhlovu
The most recent loss prompting the outcry was that of Nomthandazo Wethu Ndhlovu, a 16‑year‑old pupil who died at school on Monday, 27 July 2026. Her family confirmed the tragedy but declined further comment, citing ongoing grief. The incident intensified the sense of crisis, as students and parents pointed to it as evidence that whatever is afflicting the school is escalating and demanding immediate action.
Traditional Healer Warns of Witchcraft and Evil Spirits
Traditional healer Dr John Sithole weighed in, asserting that the school is indeed beset by evil spirits and that witches are exploiting the situation. He advocated for the immediate involvement of spiritual healers to perform cleansing rituals, arguing that only such interventions can neutralize the malevolent forces believed to be causing illness and death among learners. His perspective reinforces the prevailing belief among many community members holdouts that supernatural explanations are the root cause of the school’s woes.
Gauteng Department of Education’s Official Response
The Gauteng Department of Education, through spokesman Onwabile Lubhelwana, acknowledged the tragedy and expressed sorrow over the passing of the pupil at Edward Phatudi School of Specialisation. Lubhelwana confirmed that five pupil deaths had been reported by the school in 2026, attributing them to accidents, natural causes, and suicide. He stated that a psychosocial support team had been dispatched to provide counselling and assistance to affected students and staff. While extending condolences, the department emphasized that the cause of the most recent death remains unknown and urged reliance on verified investigations rather than unverified spiritual claims.
Moving Forward: Balancing Belief and Evidence
The situation at Edward Phatudi Secondary School illustrates a tension between community‑driven spiritual interpretations and official calls for evidence‑based resolution. While pupils, parents, and certain cultural leaders perceive occult forces at work, the Department of Education stresses the need for medical, nutritional, and safety investigations—such as examining the alleged expired food supplies—and providing mental‑health support. Addressing both the emotional distress and the tangible health risks will be essential to restore confidence, ensure pupil safety, and prevent further loss of life. Continued dialogue, transparent reporting, and coordinated action among school authorities, health officials, and spiritual advisors—if desired by the community—could pave the way toward a sustainable solution.