Acornhoek, Mpumalanga - An Mpumalanga pupil accused of stabbing a schoolmate to death has asked for a legal aid lawyer.
The accused, Desmond Monani, 22, who is in Grade 10 at Reti Secondary School in Zoeknog village, near Casteel outside Acornhoek, appeared briefly in the Acornhoek Magistrate's Court on Friday.
He was not asked to plead to a murder charge, a Sapa correspondent reported.
Monani was arrested on Wednesday after handing himself over to the police following the fatal stabbing of Grade 9 pupil, Archie Khumalo, 17.
“The suspect has asked for a legal aid lawyer and his case was postponed to Monday for his lawyer to be available when he formally applies for bail,” Mpumalanga police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said.
According to Mohlala, the young men had argued before Khumalo was stabbed in the chest while buying lunch at break time.
Provincial education spokesman Jasper Zwane said pupils who witnessed the incident would receive counselling.
“The department has already instituted an investigation into the circumstances which led to this unfortunate incident. (We have) also deployed officials to render counselling services to the learners, educators and the family of the deceased,” he said.
Sapa