A 16-year-old teenager, named as Abongile Mpemba, was stabbed to death by a friend in a quarrel over who would smoke tobacco first, Butterworth police said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson captain Jackson Manatha said a group of boys wanted to have a smoke and argued over who would smoke the tobacco first.

Mpemba wanted to smoke first and argued with his 18-year-old friend.

Mpemba and the 18-year-old both returned home to arm themselves before returning to confront each other again.

Mpemba was stabbed in the chest and died on scene.

His 18-year-old friend was arrested and the knife used to kill Mpemba was recovered.

The 18-year-old would appear before the Nqgamakhwe magistrate's court soon, said Manatha. - Sapa