Pupil killed prior to final exam

Classmates watch in horror but still have to write paper

AQUARREL over a girl ended in tragedy when an Eastern Cape matriculant was stabbed to death inside a classroom.

Another matriculant has since been arrested for the killing. The stabbing took place at Abambo Senior Secondary School in Mceula village near Whittlesea on Tuesday.

Pupils were busy writing their final English paper at the time.

Following the stabbing, the Grade 12s were moved to another classroom to complete their exam.

The Eastern Cape education department said yesterday the two pupils had earlier quarrelled in the village, but the fight was brought to school.

It is alleged that the deceased, 20year-old Nathi Mbindela, pulled out a panga in the exam room and approached classmate Athenkosi Tyutu, 21. Tyutu allegedly retaliated, stabbing Mbindela in the head. He died on the scene.

Police arrived at the school and arrested Tyutu, who appeared in the Whittlesea Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of murder and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Bongani Mbindela said they were shocked to receive a phone call from the school that Mbindela had been killed.

He said school teachers had been alerted about the tiff between the two pupils a day before the incident.

The department said the murder delayed the final examination by an hour, but that time was compensated to pupils.

Education spokesman Mali Mtima said the department was saddened by Mbindela’s death.

“The incident happened at about 8.45am before commencement of exams whilst invigilators were busy with pre-stage processes of examination.

“It is alleged that the 20-year-old passed on after being stabbed to death by another candidate at the exam room during a fight,” said Mtima.

He said the department had also sourced the services of local social workers to ensure that matriculants, who witnessed the stabbing, received counseling before they started writing.

Education MEC Mandla Makupula sent his condolences to the Mbindela family.

“For the first time in the history of this department and province, we are mourning for a Grade 12 pupil who died so tragically while on the verge of finishing his studies.”

Chairman of the school governing body, Mkhuseli Ndlovu, called on the department to assist the school with a security guard, alleging that pupils brought drugs and weapons to the school on a daily basis. —