Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, says the minor’s case was postponed today (Friday) to provide him with an opportunity to obtain legal counsel. The accused will makes his reappearance before the Koffiefontein Magistrate’s Court on October 23. As he is a minor, the grade 10 learner’s name cannot be revealed. The accused is alleged to have stabbed a fellow classmate at Reikaeletse Secondary School, with a screwdriver in a moment of rage.

The deceased, Lungelo Khathane, allegedly got into an altercation with his fellow grade 10 classmate, on Tuesday afternoon, at around 14:30. The alleged cause of the altercation is yet to be revealed by police. Khathane died later at a local hospital. Word of Khathane’s death gained traction around the town and on social media on Wednesday, with the suspect in question being apprehended that Wednesday for murder.

The Free State Education Department has since deployed some of its officials to the affected school. Following this, the department arranged that learners and teachers receive counselling following the incident. Scholar safety has again come under scrutiny following instances of violence involving learners around the country.

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