The parents of Morne Harmse, accused of stabbing a fellow pupil to death with a sword, in their first public statement since the incident, said their son was a victim of bullying.
In an exclusive statement to Beeld newspaper, Machiel and Liza Harmse said the 18-year-old was small for his age and had been bullied throughout his school career.
"He is very small and short for his age... where we could, we defended him and in some instances spoke to the bullies, but we also accepted it as part of life...
"We never realised the true impact this emotional and physical abuse had on him," the couple said.
Harmse, wearing a black mask, allegedly stabbed 16-year-old Jacques Pretorius to death with a Samurai sword at the Nic Diederichs Technical High School in Krugersdorp on Monday.
He also stands accused of injuring three others in the sword attack.
"His words to us were: 'When I put the mask over my face, everything went dead quiet and only my body moved. I wanted to stop but I couldn't'."
His parents expressed their condolences to the Pretorius family.
"Firstly, we would like to express our sincere sympathy and empathy with the Pretorius family. We realise that our child has taken away the most valuable possession in your life. We are extremely sorry and so wish that these were not the circumstances and that we could change things."
The couple said their son explained to them after his arrest that he had felt worthless and powerless and wanted to make a statement.
"He had gone to school with the intention to make 'them' - nobody in the specific - get a fright and to hurt them. But he never intended to kill anyone. He just wanted to express his frustration and feeling of powerlessness. He wanted to be somebody."
The Harmses said "to our regret, it seems like he had started experimenting with Satanism".
The mask he wore is said to be similar to masks worn by heavy metal band Slipknot which has been accused of producing Satanic music.
His parents said he told them that the matric final exam had also put him under a lot of pressure.
"We suspect that a combination of factors such as stress, a low self esteem, wrong influences and an absolute feeling of powerlessness caused our child to commit this terrible deed.
"Morne was during our visit (in detention) terribly confused and only realised (Tuesday) that somebody had died. He could basically not remember any of the events.
"We appeal to all parents to have a deep conversation with their children to make sure everything is in order... We appeal to people not to judge us. Please give us some time to pick up the pieces of our lives."
The funeral of the boy he allegedly killed would take place in Krugersdorp on Friday at 11am. - Sapa