Two learners at Minerva Secondary School in Alexandra were stabbed and taken to hospital for medical treatment yesterday.

Alex News reports that a number of learners were involved in a brawl before the two boys were stabbed.

Community Policing Forum (CPF) interim spokesperson Chris Mabunda said, based on information shared on the CPF group, one learner was stabbed on the left side of the chest near the heart, while the other was stabbed in the back with a pair of scissors.

He said four learners were rushed to hospital but could not yet confirm how the two other learners were injured.

Other learners affected

Community Guardians Gauteng leader Zandile Mojapelo, whose team members are stationed across Alexandra high schools, confirmed that the two other learners Mabunda referred to were only sprayed with pepper spray.

“Only the two boys were stabbed; the two girls were pepper sprayed,” she said.

Police and emergency services responded to the scene.

Arrests and alleged gang links

Mojapelo further confirmed that the two learners alleged to have been involved in the brawl were subsequently arrested and are being held in police custody.

She linked the incident to gang-related fights often witnessed among high school learners in Alexandra. “It is a matter that involves gangs. You know these learners always fight,” she remarked.

Alleged incident at school involving parent

Furthermore, she claimed that a parent of one of the learners alleged to be behind the attack went to the school, and when a teacher explained that her child was accused of inciting the violence, the parent subsequently attacked the teacher.

“Parents love defending their children. So, when the parent was told that her child was behind this, she went ahead and slapped the teacher,” Mojapelo claimed.

Police and education department response

While some reports suggest that the learners are from different schools, Mojapelo revealed that, according to information at her disposal, the learners are from Minerva Secondary.

Although the police did not divulge detailed information regarding the incident, Alexandra Police Station commander Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane confirmed that police are aware of the matter and are engaging with the school principal, Nontsikelelo Tsatsi.

Alex News reached out to Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona, however, the department is yet to engage with the district and was not aware of the incident at the time of inquiry.

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