Bring on Jacob Zuma this is what happens when South African culture becomes americanised (yes I did not spell it with a capital)How can you blame music or satan for this, the kid was obviously stupid and is likely to come from a very strict household (yes MvK, You are just as sick as he is) with parents who are to stuck in their obstinance. Let your kids be themselves and learn to communicate with them...Then you won't have to decrease the sale value of your home by removing doors, the kid will open it and welcome you in. Yes MvK Bad parenting is definitely to blame for this kids actions BUT you are such a parent.

Daniel O'brien
8/19/2008 9:05:00 PM

This kid sound like Hansie, the devil made me do it. The difference being Hansie didn't kill anyone one, he just took a bribe... I wonder if he also listened to Slipknot? Do you think child rapists, hi-jackers, mass murderers and atm bombers enjoy listening to Slipknot and Cradle of Filth... When individuals are high on drugs or have mental disorders does not mean the music they enjoy is the soul cause of their actions, in some cases it may contribute but is not the driving force. When the parents don't teach their kids right from wrong or allow them space to be themselves, persecute them for their preferences, then thats the real Satan making them do it. Watch out, their maybe a metal head living next to you, if you dont like it, move, if not stay, I promise they won't be lopping your head off.

Warren
8/19/2008 6:02:25 PM

my condolences to the familys and school involved i realise this might be a very difficult time for all. But seriously though? wat if young pete (or watever his name was) listened to say 2pac or 50 dollars (or cents i cant remember now) or even worse....HOUSE MUSIC would they blame it? no. they wouldnt dyu know why? cos they dont understand metal. they dont understand our culture and our ideology sure this kid was an exception. besides slipknot are hardly heavy, they claim to be, but there are plenty better bands to listen to.. ok i am drifting my point: metal is not the cause for this killing, niether is it the cuase of any other video games or drugs (whatever else) think about dealing with the real issues: like the psychological and mental health issues of this kid? what about blaming his parents for not caring enough to help him? seriously this is BS.

Will
8/19/2008 5:41:41 PM

In response to M v K's post:
Jonny can you hear me turn that music down You're making too much noise I mean it do it now all that stuff is evil Ozzy, Judas Priest there's backwards messages in that stuff that leads you to the beast Jonny don't you hear me open up that door I've been calling you for hours I won't say it anymore just wait until your dad gets home and sees what you have done kicked out of school you've got no job you're a useless delinquent bum oh my god it's Jonny hanging by his neck all those metal albums have led him to his death Now it's time for parents to open ears and listen maybe it's too late to see what you've been missing music is no cause of death it's you that suffocates if you had opened your eyes and ears you'd see just who's to blame Who's to be responsible for a life that's gone off track who's the one who must be there to see it gets put back where were you to hear the cries of a person in need were you there to see the signs or were you too busy Now it's time for parents to open ears and listen maybe it's too late to see what you've been missing music is no cause of death it's you that suffocates if you had opened your eyes and ears you'd see just who's to blame Who's to be responsible for a life that's gone off track who's the one who must be there to see it gets put back where were you to hear the cries of a person in need were you there to see the signs or were you too busy Who's the cause, who's the blame for a life that's not worth living is it parents, family who take without giving so next time that you close your eyes and choose to shift the blame remember you can save a life so really who's to blame?!

Throwing out your kids' music will not solve the problem, the underlying problems are still there and will not just go away. Why? Because music does not alter a person's mind or thoughts. Everyone has a choice and unfortunately, in the case of this mentally-unstable individual, he made the wrong one.

Time for parents to be parents and that doesn't mean throwing out their music or taking off their bedroom doors (this will generally make the kid more screwed up than they already are)but doing the real parenting jobs like communication and understanding and solidifying mutual respect between yourselves and your kids.

Look at serial killers, most grew up in a household where they had their rights restricted and their privacy violated. Wake up! Don't make the same mistake!

Trudy Currie
8/19/2008 3:07:33 PM

Im a metal fan. Listened to ACDC and GunsnRoses as a teenager. People, u are wrong in saying the boy is hiding behind satanism or the music. I hovered over the edge for a long time and the music plays tricks on ur mind as a teenager. And to all of u out there sayng there had to be signs. There is none. Teenagers changes there minds and moods by the minute. My parents never knew what was going on in my head. The only visible signs was the long hours I spend behind my closed bedroom door. I hope this is a wake up call to parents. Go home tonight and chuck all ur kids Metalica, Manson and slipknot albums. If they throw a teenage tantrum. Take of their bedroom door. No bedroom door, No time to listen to mind altering lyrics and no privacy to conjour up murder scenarios. Oh and before u crucify me for the last advise. I hav two kids and I run a lot stricter household than the one I grew up in. Dicipline ur kids and set boundaries and u will not hav to worry about sumthing like this happening to ur kids.

M v K
8/19/2008 2:36:03 PM

PREMIER SOUTH AFRICAN HEAVY METAL BAND, AGRO SENDS ITS CONDOLENSCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL SLAYING.

Leading Heavy Metal band send condolences to the families and pupils for the tragic events that happened at Nic Diedericks High School on Monday. The band does publicly denounce the slayings but insist that heavy metal music should not be held accountable for the unfortunate events that transpired. When contacting Shane Pennicott, the lead guitarist of Agro he had this to say: “As a father foremost and a heavy metal musician secondly, this event saddens me on both levels. I send my deepest condolences to the families and pupils of the school and wish them peace in this hard time.

I later got a call from Clifford Crabb, lead singer of Agro shortly afterwards:
“I am truly shocked and saddened by this event and send my deepest heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the victims. I encourage the powers that be to look at the underlying psychological matters at hand to avoid such an event happening again and not to simply cop out and blame heavy metal music for this tragedy.”

As the leading fore-runners of the heavy metal genre in South Africa for the last fifteen years the band freely make themselves available for any queries regarding heavy metal and the heavy metal lifestyle.

Peace, Love and Respect Please contact Trudy Currie at 0797520159 or email me at motherfooddd@gmail.com for more info.

If you going to be running a story on this tragedy, Agro would like the opportunity to defend the music.

Trudy Currie Media Liaison

Trudy Currie
8/19/2008 2:20:33 PM

you cannot blame the music. if you want to blame someone other then the actual boy himself, blame his parents for not paying enough attention to their kid. if he is a weak minded and mentally ill person, then yeah sure you can say that the music got to him. i love slipknot, but im not about to go kill cos satan told me to. thats a bunch of bull. if you listen to britney spears are you going to go have babies? please. the kids unstable, thats all there is to it.

Candice
8/19/2008 1:37:35 PM

Blaming Satan and music is completely unreasonable, this pupil obviously has serious mental problems, he clearly lives in a fantasy world, (dressing like a ninja and painting himself like a band member) trying to become something he is not.... unfortunately unlike in games your opponent wont get up again to fight!!!! He must be deeply disturbed and it is sad that no one saw it coming, yes he must take responsibility for his actions, but how can he really when he isn't really living in our reality?

anonymous
8/19/2008 1:10:37 PM