Teen to appear in court for allegedly stabbing fellow learner aged 13
A 16-year-old who stabbed a fellow learner aged 13 at a school in Westonaria is set to appear in court today (January 27).
A 16-year-old learner is set to appear in the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court today (Friday January 27) for stabbing a 13-year-old fellow learner in Westonaria.
Westonaria Police spokesperson Sergeant Audrey Sefara confirmed the incident occurred at about 10:45 on Tuesday, January 24.
Also read: School stabbing: Suspects now in guardians’ care
“The 13-year-old learner was at school seated on the staircase during lunch when the 16-year-old approached him and stabbed him in the head with a sharp object. He sustained an open wound but was afraid to report the matter to the educators, because he was afraid of the perpetrator. He then reported the matter to his mother later on,” Sergeant Sefara said.
She added that the mother then accompanied her 13-year-old to the school the following day and upon arrival, her child went on to play with her friends. It was during this time that the perpetrator struck again and assaulted the victim for the second time.
Also read: GDE confirms stabbing at local high school: 50 learners suspended
“As the learner was playing with friends, the perpetrator approached and assaulted the learner again. Some learners nearby managed to help the victimised learner and quickly ran to the staff office where the mother was and informed her. The mother together with the son reported the matter to the Westonaria Police.”
The young perpetrator was then charged with assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was handed back to his parents as he is still a minor.
The West Rand District Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana has condemned such horrendous behaviour in schools.
“This behaviour will never be tolerated especially after the Adopt-a-cop school talk that Captain Alpheus Motlhale held on January 11 where he addressed safer school programmes which includes bullying, carrying of dangerous weapons, use of substances suspected to be drugs and discipline at the same school,” concluded Major General Kekana.
