A grade 10 pupil, who stabbed his teacher to death in front of his classmates, was on Monday sentenced to an effective 10 years’ imprisonment.
KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshablala sentenced 18-year old Mazwi Mkhwanazi to 15 years, five of which were suspended.
The court room was packed to capacity.
The Thornwood secondary school pupil had earlier pleaded guilty to stabbing his teacher, 28-year-old Nokulunga Ndala, in front of his classmates last March.
According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Mkhwanazi had stabbed Ndala because she had humiliated him in front of his classmates by accusing him of cheating during a Geography test.
Ndala was stabbed twice in the neck with a knife that police said had a 20cm long blade.
Mkhwanazi fled with classmates in hot pursuit while Ndala bled to death.
Police used the 18-year-old’s mother to track him down.
She called him on his cellphone and he was persuaded to give himself up after he initially threatened to take his own life.
Police found the bloodied knife in his possession. — Sapa