Seven learners arrested for two separate incidents of murder at Free State school

The Department of Education in the Free State has expressed concern after seven learners were arrested for two separate incidents of murder at the Lerato Thando High School in Intabazwe near Harrismith in the Free State.

In the latest incident, 19-year-old Nhlanhla Ncongwane succumbed to a chest wound after he was allegedly stabbed with a knife by a 17-year-old learner following a dispute over a cellphone. The suspect, who is in Grade 11, has been arrested in terms of the Child Justice Act.

“On arrival, they were led to one of the classrooms at the school where the body of a learner who was lying in a pool of blood near the door. It’s alleged that a Grade 10 learner went to the Grade 11 class where he found a group of boys playing with a cellphone. It’s further alleged he grabbed the cellphone and refused to give it back to those boys. Apparently, the suspect 17 took a knife from one of his classmates and allegedly stabbed the deceased once on the chest, he collapsed and died instantly on the scene,” says Free State police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele.

Provincial Education spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, says in the other incident, a group of six learners from the same school were arrested for an alleged murder that happened two months ago.