Tensions were high at the Protea Magistrates Court where three teenagers accused of the murder of Grade 10 learner, Lerato Nchabeng, from Reasoma Secondary in Protea Glen were appearing. "Wabona wena Ernest, otloshwa o mpolaetse ngwana," The mother of the deceased Palesa Nchabeng cursed and swore death on the three accused telling them they were next as they walked out of court.

'MY HEART BLEEDS'

Lerato was stabbed three weeks ago outside the school premises allegedly over a cap. The three accused allegedly took the deceased's cap after school and then one of them stabbed him in the neck. He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The mother of the deceased said seeing the accused for the first time in court tore her apart. She wept as she saw them walking into the dock and cursed them when they walked out. "Looking at them, I saw vultures that attacked my child, I wanted to see them face to face especially that one they call Ernest Mohloki. I don't know what to say, my heart is broken that my son is gone forever." she said. Nchabeng begged for justice and claimed that she can see that this case will be bought especially for two of the accused. "They are going to buy the docket and I see that the main focus will be on this one accused called China but all of them must be kept in jail," she said.

A TICKING TIME BOMB

A community member Fanyana Ndleko said this tragic incident was bound to happen. "This was a ticking time bomb that the school principal has ignored for a while. There were signs of gangsterism there but the head of the school was unbothered," Ndleko said. He claimed that some learners at the school were loan sharks borrowing money to their peers and also selling drugs and alcohol inside school premises. "The principal does nothing," Ndleko claimed. He blamed the principal and claimed that he wasn't even prepared to hold a memorial service for the deceased learner. "The principal shocked us all when he didn't open a case or report the matter to the police. Instead, he issued suspension letters to 10 of the learners linked to this incident and wanted to sweep it under the carpet. We have traumatised learners who witnessed the incident but never got proper counselling. The school is being sent to the dogs," he said. Before the accused left the dock, Mohloki and the one who allegedly stabbed the deceased raised his hand and told the court: "Please release these two, I'm the one who did this." Community members who filled the gallery while some peeped through the windows due to overcrowding howled at the magistrate to release the accused so they can deal with them. The case was postponed to 12 March for formal bail application.