A security guard stationed at Hayfields Primary School in Pietermaritzburg has received widespread praise after he went beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of two young learners who were left stranded at the school gate long after dismissal time.
According to reports, the two six-year-old learners were still waiting outside the school at around 18:00, despite school having officially ended at approximately 12:30. This meant the children had been alone and waiting for more than five hours, unsure of what to do and without immediate supervision.
The situation unfolded when the security guard noticed that the children had not been collected by their caregivers as expected. Rather than closing his shift and leaving them unattended, he made the decision to stay with them. Even though his working hours had already ended, he remained on site to ensure the young learners were safe and not exposed to any danger while they waited for assistance.
Reports indicate that the guard also sacrificed his arranged transport home in order to remain with the children. During this time, he comforted them and ensured they stayed calm while arrangements were being made to locate a responsible adult who could take them home safely. The children were reportedly hungry and frightened, but remained under his care until help eventually arrived.
Emergency and community support services were later involved to resolve the situation. The children were taken to Alexandra SAPS, where they were placed in safe custody while further steps were taken to locate their family members. In a further show of community support, they were also provided with food by Roman’s Pizza Hayfields before being collected by a family member.
The incident has sparked concern about how two young children were left uncollected for such an extended period after school hours. While the immediate focus has been on the guard’s actions, attention has also turned toward school procedures and learner safety protocols.
The management of Hayfields Primary School has confirmed that it is now reviewing its systems to ensure that similar situations do not happen again. This includes reassessing how learners are released at the end of the school day and what measures are in place when children are not collected on time.
Community members and social media users have widely commended the security guard for his compassion, patience, and sense of responsibility. Many have described his actions as an example of humanity in practice, highlighting how he prioritized the wellbeing of vulnerable children over personal convenience.
While the incident raises serious questions about supervision and communication between schools and guardians, it has also drawn attention to the important role played by frontline staff such as security personnel in protecting learners beyond formal duties.
In the end, what could have been a distressing and potentially dangerous situation for two young children was eased by the presence and commitment of one individual who chose not to walk away when his shift ended.
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