Limpopo mother accuses school guards after son stabbed outside Tzaneen school

A Limpopo mother has criticised school security after her 17-year-old son was stabbed and injured outside his school in Nkowankowa, Tzaneen. The Grade 10 pupil is recovering at home following the attack, which his mother says involved pupils from different schools.

What happened

Amukelani Junior Mashimbye, 17, a Grade 10 pupil at DZJ Mtebule Secondary School, was allegedly assaulted by pupils from other schools and some from his own school. During the incident he was reportedly stabbed twice, sustaining injuries to the upper body and his hand. He then managed to grab the knife and stab two of his assailants before escaping.

Mother criticises guards

Mashimbye’s mother, Clarah Maduwa, said her son had told the school guards he was scared to go home because other pupils were waiting for him outside. According to Maduwa, the guards did not alert the police about the situation.

“The information that we received and confirmed by the police stated that my son remained at school and informed the guards that he was scared to go home because his fellow pupils teamed up with pupils from different schools and were waiting for him outside. The guards did not alert the police about the looming squabble that appeared to be inevitable,” she said.

Maduwa said her son was visibly shaken, traumatised and scared to return to school, worried his assailants might come back. She asked for police action against the assailants and urged school authorities to address bullying.

“I need the police to deal with his assailants and the school authorities must find a way of addressing bullying in schools to prevent incidents of this nature,” she said.

Authorities respond

Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba confirmed the incident and said the police were investigating.

Elizabeth Shingange, founder of The Elizabeth Home Foundation, said incidents of violence in schools around Tzaneen were rampant and called on the department of basic education to intervene.

“We are deeply saddened by what’s happening in our schools. This issue of bullying has been going on for years. As parents, we live in fear because our children are not safe in schools. We are hereby requesting the department of basic education to intervene and assist residents of Nkowankowa to deal with this issue.”

Limpopo department of education spokesperson Mike Maringa said the incident happened outside the school premises; for that reason the department was not informed about it.

Investigation underway

Police are investigating the assault and the circumstances that led to the stabbing. The pupil is recuperating at home.