Pretoria - Monday was supposed to be one of Dinah Tshabalala’s happiest days when she gave birth to a baby girl. Instead, her happiness was short-lived when she was told her eldest son had been stabbed to death at school.
Tshabalala gave birth to Lethabo at the Mamelodi Hospital just a few kilometres from the Mamelodi East school where her son Thabo, 14, was killed.
According to the family, Thabo got into an argument with another Grade 6 classmate. Another boy handed the classmate a “Rambo” knife and he stabbed Thabo three times in the torso.
Thabo died at the scene.
The knife was made popular by Sylvester Stallone’s character in the movie Rambo.
The incident happened in their classroom at Bula Dikgoro Primary School while the teacher was out.
On Tuesday, Thabo’s distraught mother was discharged from hospital. His father Andries Tshabalala, said the family was still in the dark about the events surrounding his son’s death.
Representatives of the Gauteng Education Department had been to their home to inform them that a police investigation was under way and the department was also looking into what happened.
“We were told that he was in a fight and he was stabbed. Two hours later my sister came back from the school and told us that he was dead,” said Andries.
Standing at the door of his two-roomed home, the tearful father of four could not believe what had happened, and questioned the school’s ability to protect pupils.
Thabo’s aunt, Patricia Mphago, who went to the school after the incident, said all they heard about the incident was hearsay.
“We don’t even know the boys who are behind this or who their parents are. How could the school allow kids to come on to the school’s premises carrying weapons?” Mphago asked.
The family said they had fond memories of the 14-year-old who loved football. Mphago started to smile as she described Thabo as a happy child who was obedient and quiet and enjoyed playing football with his friends.
His father said Thabo idolised Teko Modise, the Mamelodi Sundowns captain. “He loved his style of play while he was an Orlando Pirates player,” he said.
SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) general secretary Mugwena Maluleka said violence in schools was on the increase. “It is quite worrying that such incidents happen at schools. An overall investigation has to be done in this matter.”
The DA Gauteng education spokesman Khume Ramulifho said the department lacked a safety plan for schools. “When we questioned the department about the plan, they said they were working on it.
“We believe random searches could be effective and urge the MEC to speed up the process because this is not the first incident.”
Gauteng Education Department spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane said a memorial service for Thabo would be held at the school on Thursday.
“The department will also help with funeral arrangements and counselling for learners at the school,” Sekhonyane said.
The boy who stabbed Thabo was arrested after the incident. He appeared in court on Tuesday.
Pretoria News