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Police are investigating after a Soweto high school pupil was fatally stabbed, allegedly by UJ students near the Soweto Campus.
Two UJ students are in custody after a Grade 11 pupil Simphiwe ‘Mcebo’ Biyela was fatally stabbed following a violent altercation in Soweto. Picture: Supplied
Two University of Johannesburg (UJ) students are in police custody after they were arrested for an altercation with a Grade 11 pupil from Musi High School in Pimville, Soweto.
Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed on Wednesday night that a Grade 11 boy pupil was stabbed to death in a clash with university students on his way home.
Mabona said that after the pupil died, pupils from the school and other Pimville schools organised themselves and disrupted classes.
He added that the pupils also marched to the UJ Soweto Campus in retaliation for their classmate’s death, and the police were called to maintain peace.
“We call upon learners to behave in a proper manner because police are investigating the circumstances surrounding this, and we understand that the police have arrested a perpetrator,” the spokesperson told eNCA.
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The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Ward 24 Kabwe Branch confirmed on Wednesday that the pupil who died was an 18-year-old, Simphiwe ‘Mcebo’ Biyela.
Power Park ward committee secretary Scebisa Masondo said it is alleged that six UJ students were drinking outside one of the Soweto Campus residences in Power Park.
The students reportedly approached a bus carrying pupils home from school and demanded that the bus driver take them to a place to purchase alcohol while the pupils remained on the bus.
“When the bus driver refused to take them, they then got inside and took learners’ belongings, including hats, by force, and they left with them,” Masondo said.
The secretary said that the bus driver wanted to avoid fights and stopped the pupils from getting off the bus to confront the students.
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The driver proceeded and dropped the pupils off at their stops, but some pupils, including Cebo, returned to demand their belongings from the students. Unfortunately, a fight and commotion ensued.
“This fight between students and learners resulted in one learner, Simphiwe ‘Mcebo’ Biyela, losing his life on the scene, brutally killed by students who were supposed to protect them,” Masondo said.
According to the ANCYL, police arrested two students involved in the incident, while the other four suspects remain on the run.
“As the ANCYL in Ward 24, we will follow this matter very closely to make sure that the family of the deceased gets justice in the matter until the end.”
UJ conveyed condolences to the Biyela family and said it was deeply saddened by the pupil’s death.
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“As a university, we convey our deepest condolences and sympathy to the deceased learner’s family, relatives and the school community he was part of,” UJ senior manager for strategic communications Lebogang Seale said on Thursday.
“This is not the kind of news any parent expects, and our prayers are with the family and friends of the learner during this difficult time.”
The university condemned acts of violence and intimidation, stating that such behaviour contradicts its values.
“Such behaviour starkly contrasts with the university’s values of respect, dignity, and integrity, and the university will not hesitate to take immediate and strong action against any of our students should they be found guilty of any transgressions,” Seale said.
On Thursday afternoon, Mabona said teaching resumed as normal at Musi High School.
However, a group of about 150 learners allegedly forced their way out of the school premises during the third period, interrupting schooling. In protest of Simphiwe’s death, this group allegedly marched to the UJ and interrupted two other nearby schools.
“The GDE can confirm that learners at schools affected by disruptions were safe, and curriculum delivery continued accordingly,” the spokesperson added.
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“Our Psycho-Social Support team has since been deployed to Musi High School to provide trauma counselling to affected learners, staff, and the broader school community.”
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed deep disturbance over the pupil’s death and extended condolences to his family, friends, and community.
“The department remains committed to supporting the school and ensuring the safety and well-being of all learners and staff. Learning and teaching will continue as normal tomorrow. We plead for communities in the surrounding areas to allow law enforcement agencies to address this injustice, and refrain from further disrupting schooling,” said MEC Chiloane.
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