On Monday a fight broke out at Ruabohlale Junior High School in Soshanguve where a learner was arrested for allegedly stabbing a visitor to the school multiple times.
It was reported on Tuesday afternoon that a 16-year-old stabbed his 17-year-old Aha Thuto Secondary School classmate in Orange Farm.
According to police the learner was stabbed in the thigh and was rushed to Stretford Clinic for medical attention but unfortunately later succumbed to his wound.
Acting Sedibeng District Commissioner Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu said they received a report of a stabbing at Aha – Thuto Secondary school.
“It is alleged that the 16-year- old and the 17-year- old schoolmate had a fight in the street in Ext. 7B, Orange Farm, over a teaser choke instrument and their friend intervened and stopped them.
“Today, during school break, the two met and a fight ensued. The 16-year- old took out a knife and stabbed the17-year-old on the thigh. The victim was rushed to Stretford Clinic for medical attention and it is where he succumbed to the stabbing wound. A case of murder is registered for further investigation and the suspect will appear in court soon,” he said.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow Education MEC Khume Ramulifho on Tuesday visited Altmont Technical High in Protea, Soweto which recently reported violent confrontations among the students.
Ramulifho expressed concerns that the latest incident of gang-related violence at the school happened during a police raid.
“I came here today to make a follow up from the previous visit I made to the school. There were incidents of gangsterism at the school and we wanted the department of education to be hands-on to make sure that teaching and learning is taking place in a conducive environment.
“But last week someone shared a video of a fight which broke out at the school and I decided to pay a visit today. I had a chat with the principal who said there were police who were doing unannounced searches and some of the learners were trying to be violent.
“They didn’t want to be searched as a result, causing some sort of a commotion as you can see in the videos but we are happy the police were present.”
Ramulifho called on authorities to disarm learners.
“It is still a concern that if learners can come to school with weapons it is unacceptable. Today when I was still waiting for the principal another learner came rushing and reported that there was a learner with a knife.”
Department of Education Spokesperson Steve Mabona said early this year the department held a parenting workshop aimed at strengthening parent/guardian involvement in supervising homework and instilling learner discipline in and outside the school environment.
The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) Gauteng Provincial Secretary Nkosinathi Kokong said all stakeholders should be part of instilling discipline at the school.
“We need a proper meeting with all stakeholders so we can come here in Almont and assist in terms of discipline, late coming and all the wrong things that are happening here,” Kokong said.
