QWAQWA – A stabbing incident involving male learners has reared its ugly head at one of the Free State schools.

In a statement, the Free State Department of Education confirmed the incident occurred last Wednesday 14 October at the Seotlong Agricultural and Hotel School in Qwaqwa, a former homeland in the eastern Free State.

The victim is a Gr. 11 learner and was admitted to the Elizabeth Ross Hospital for medical treatment for injuries he sustained following a stabbing with a pair of scissors. According to the department, the incident occurred during break on the school premises.

Howard Ndaba, provincial spokesperson for the department, said disciplinary proceedings were underway against those involved. “The incident was reported to the parents of all learners involved, and a meeting was convened on Thursday to address the incident. According to a report from the school management, the victim was stabbed on the hand with a pair of scissors by fellow learners during an altercation,” he said.

Ndaba said following the meeting, the School Governing Body (SGB) Disciplinary Committee will sit on Tuesday (20 October) to institute formal disciplinary processes in line with the school’s Code of Conduct for Learners. The reason for the violent attack is yet to be established, and learners are called on to report any form of bullying, intimidation and the possession of dangerous weapons.

The MEC for Education, Dr Julia Maboya, has strongly condemned the stabbing incident, saying: “Schools must remain safe spaces for teaching and learning. We condemn in the strongest possible terms any act of violence in our schools.”

“We have instructed the district to provide psycho-social support to the affected learners and to ensure that the school’s disciplinary processes are fair, firm and expeditious,” she said.

Maboya said her department was continuing to enforce the National School Safety Framework (NSSF) and the Regulations on Safety Measures at Public Schools. It prohibits learners from being in possession of dangerous objects and mandates School Safety Committees, search and seizure procedures, and clear anti-violence and anti-bullying protocols. “Learners who bring dangerous objects to school and harm others will face the full might of the disciplinary code,” said Maboya.
ALSO READ: Brandfort primary school learner fatally stabbed by peer