JOSHUA Peterson woke up on January 22, 2025, ready for a normal school day. He had no idea that he would only return home months later, paralysed.

The 18-year-old was stabbed three times by another learner at West Ridge High School, a trade institution where learners receive both academic education and hands-on skills training.

The attack reportedly followed what Joshua described as a “senseless argument” in a school corridor.

“I had never interacted with him before. I think I saw him for the first time that morning,” Joshua said, speaking from a hospital bed now placed in his family’s living room.

His mother, Bernadette, explained that they had to bring in a hospital bed because of his condition and height.

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“With him not being able to do anything, he could not fit on his own bed,” she said.

Joshua now depends entirely on his family for daily care.

“He even relies on his little sister to feed him,” Bernadette added.

Getting him to medical appointments is extremely difficult. Their home sits on an elevated area with a long staircase leading up to it. Moving him requires multiple people.

“I need about seven boys to carry him down these stairs just to get him into a car,” she said.

The most severe stab wound was behind Joshua’s neck, where a nerve was damaged.

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“I remember going numb and falling. When I got to the hospital, I was still conscious and could move my right hand,” Joshua recalled.

However, while waiting for treatment, his condition worsened.

“His nerve shut down after the membrane was slit,” his mother explained.

Joshua spent five months in hospital and now uses a urine bag. Since returning home, his life has changed completely.

His mother said they are frustrated by the lack of communication from authorities.

“Mayville SAPS members only came once while he was in hospital to take a statement. Since then, we haven’t heard anything,” Bernadette said.

“The Department of Education has also showed no interest in this case. No one has visited the family to see his condition.”

Dreams Shattered

Before the incident, Joshua dreamed of becoming a motor mechanic. Now, his future is uncertain, and he is exploring ways to continue his education online.

His mother has had to quit both her jobs to care for him full-time.

“He depends on me for everything. It’s been very hard. We get a bit of help from family here and there,” she said.

“I just want justice for my son. I want someone to take accountability, and for the Department of Education to come and see his condition.”

Despite the challenges, Joshua is adapting in small ways. He has learnt to use a phone by holding a pen in his mouth to operate the screen.

A close friend has also stepped in to support the family, helping with errands and providing emotional comfort.

@caxtonlocalmedia A Mariannridge mother is frustrated by the lack of communication from authorities and the Department of Education after a school stabbing horror which left her teenage son paralysed. #highwaymail #schoolstabbing #durban ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia

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“He’s the only person Joshua really trusts now,” Bernadette said, noting that her son often panics when someone approaches him from behind.

Before the attack, his mother described Joshua as a vibrant and caring. He left for school like any other day, then everything changed. Now paralysed and fighting to rebuild his life, this teen’s story is heartbreaking. Read how his family is coping and why they’re demanding answers. young man.

“He would visit his grandmother, help with errands, cook, and bake. He was always active around the house, he was also a huge help at the mosque,” his mother said.

After the incident, he was unable to move from the neck down. However, through intense physiotherapy, much of it done by his mother and his own determination, he has begun to regain slight movement.

The Highway Mail sent queries to the police and the Department of Education but did not receive any response by the time of publishing.

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