Learners who bullied, stabbed and killed their schoolmate in Bela Bela, Limpopo, will appear in court this morning. One of the two suspects, who is also a learner at the school, has been confirmed to be a 30-year-old man. It is alleged that the suspects, who are all learners at the Maope High School in Bela Bela, had been bullying their peer Photigo Monareng (18) for some time.

A DEADLY FIGHT

On Monday, the suspects stabbed and killed Monareng after a fight at school. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the victim was stabbed and seriously wounded. "The victim was transported to hospital by a community member who witnessed the incident. However, he was declared dead on arrival," he said. Mashaba said the suspects aged between 18 and 30 years were arrested on Tuesday and three knives, a hammer and an axe were confiscated during the arrests.

UNACCEPTABLE

Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe condemned the incident and labelled it as bullying and violence. "We have noted a trend of bullying and embedded culture of violence in schools recently. Bullying and violence should be reported, as soon as it happens, to the parents, teachers and police because it is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. It is time to hold those responsible for these acts to account," said Hadebe. MEC for Education Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has sent her condolences to the Monareng family. She said that the pupils who stabbed Photigo could be called gangsters because of the dangerous weapons they were found with. "We condemn any forms of violence in our schools. Bullying is a serious matter that affects the lives of our people and their future as well."