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- A Grade 9 pupil at a Free State school allegedly stabbed a Grade 8 schoolmate.
- The alleged attacker was arrested.
- Free State Education MEC Makalo Mohale said the department wouldn't harbour criminals at schools.
A 20-year-old Grade 9 pupil at a Free State school has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a 17-year-old Grade 8 schoolmate.
The incident happened at Mabela Secondary School in Boiketlong village, Phuthaditjhaba, on Tuesday.
Free State Department of Education spokesperson Howard Ndaba said the two pupils were allegedly involved in a fist fight during break.
"It is reported that the Grade 9 pupil rushed out of school, returned with a knife and stabbed the Grade 8 learner in full view of teachers. This led to the two boys chasing each other in the schoolyard, with learners and teachers witnessing this sordid act," Ndaba said.
Ndaba said the school called the police and ambulance.
"The stabbed learner was rushed to hospital, where he was treated," he said.
"The injured learner reported to school the next day after being discharged from hospital. Counselling has been arranged for the learners and teachers," said Ndaba.
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Free State Education MEC Makalo Mohale said: "On behalf of the department, I would like to condemn this uncivilised incident of a learner stabbing another learner. Our schools are centres of learning and teaching, not battlefields.
"We are not going to harbour criminals in our schools. The law must take its cause. Our primary responsibility is to teach learners, and we do not teach them to stab other learners."
He said the school should immediately institute disciplinary steps against the alleged perpetrator.
