The family of a grade 10 learner who was stabbed to death after an argument that ensued during lunch break blame his death on educators for allegedly refusing to assist the injured boy. Siyabonga Mngomezulu (15) from Phoenix in Durban, KwaZulu Natal (KZN) was a learner at Brookdale Secondary School and stabbed to death on Friday after an argument on who was on the queue first at the feeding scheme line.
It is alleged that the fight between Siyabonga and a fellow learner, who is in grade 8, started on Thursday during lunch break when they argued on who was first in the queue to get food. The two boys were separated and everyone thought the fight was settled. Siyabonga's elder sister Nqobile Myeni (20) said the two argued again on Friday and a fight ensued also during lunch break and the two were separated. It's alleged that the suspect followed Siyabonga as they were leaving the school to go home. "The grade 8 learner was with his three other friends. They managed to overpower Siyabonga, hold him down while the suspect stabbed my brother more than five times. This is truly heartbreaking, my brother was a peaceful person but he died like a criminal, he couldn't even fight back against four boys" Myeni added.
She said that as the family, they believe their brother could have been saved if the teachers rushed him to the hospital after he was stabbed. According to learners who witnessed the stabbing, they took Siyabonga who was bleeding profusely to the staff room and begged the teachers to take him to the local clinic with their own cars because the ambulance was going to take time, but they refused. "I guess they didn't want to stain their cars with his blood. They just stood there and let my brother die slowly," she said. According to Myeni, the family was called to the school two hours later and they found him still breathing. He succumbed to his injuries later in hospital. KZN Department of Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi had not responded to our questions by the time of publishing. KZN SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala confirmed the incident. "Phoenix police have arrested two suspects aged 14 and 15 for murder of a 15-year-old victim. after a case of murder was opened on 2 February 2024, where the victim was allegedly stabbed multiple times on the body. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspects will appear in the Verulam Magistrates Court soon," said Gwala.
