Johannesburg - Songezo Mabindla knew his alleged killer well.
The Grade 12 pupil from Tsosoloso ya Afrika Secondary School and the alleged killer were friends and classmates. The pair had known each other since their primary school days.
They even visited each other, and sometimes had sleepovers at each other’s homes.
The accused’s family are involved with Songezo’s funeral arrangements.
This emerged on Thursday in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court, where the accused, Tebogo Ndlovu, applied for bail.
Magistrate Vinny Gobind granted him bail of R2 000.
Ndlovu, 19, was arrested last Monday at the school premises shortly after Songezo was declared dead.
Songezo had been stabbed in the chest during an argument.
The court heard that the argument occurred shortly after Ndlovu confronted Songezo’s girlfriend, who had accused him of stealing school bags.
Ndlovu said in an affidavit that Songezo had grabbed and assaulted him when they were changing classes.
“At that moment, I had a pair of scissors that I had borrowed from the deceased earlier on.
“I can’t remember how I stabbed him but I fell and ran to the principal’s office. I was in the principal’s office when a teacher came and said he had died.”
The court heard that Ndlovu was not a flight risk because he did not possess a passport and that he was in his parents’ care.
In opposing bail, the State said the community was outraged at the killing, mostly because it had occurred at a place of learning.
It said the accused would intimidate and influence witnesses.
The matter was postponed to August 17 for further investigation.
The Star