A 14-year-old boy was charged with murder in the Willowmore Magistrate’s Court on Friday after he allegedly stabbed an older boy to death, Eastern Cape police said.
He appeared in court between 10am and 11am and was released into the care of his parents, Captain Ernest Sigobe said.
He allegedly stabbed the 17-year-old boy in a scuffle over a rugby tackle on the playground at Willowmore Secondary School on Thursday. The older boy, a grade nine pupil at the school, died on the way to hospital.
“We are trying to keep everything together,” headmaster of Willowmore Secondary School George Ferreira said.
Ferreira explained the fight started before school hours. The 14-year-old boy jumped over a school fence and left, threatening he would come back. He had allegedly made similar threats in the past, only to return later with his mother, which was why, Ferreira said, the children did not take him seriously.
The boy returned later and allegedly stabbed the deceased once as he left his first class. Then he allegedly ran off to join his own class. The older boy ran to the administration block and collapsed in the foyer, said Ferreira.
Councillors had been arranged for pupils and groups council sessions would continue until next week.
“This is the worst thing that can happen in any school … especially during examination time. We as a school have to go and sit down … and see how we have better safety…”
The boy would appear in court again on November 2. — Sapa