5 due in court over school stabbings

Staff Writer

FIVE suspects, two of them minors, are expected to appear in court today for allegedly stabbing and assaulting three pupils at Livingstone High School in Claremont.

The five face charges of attempted murder and are expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court after the pupils were assaulted between classrooms after the suspects forced their way on to the school premises.

The suspects, who were part of a group of 10, allegedly forced their way past a security guard through to the school’s corridors on Wednesday and attacked three pupils, Education MEC Donald Grant said yesterday.

“According to initial reports, the group were specifically targeting a Grade 11 learner. Subsequently, the Grade 11 learner and two others (from Grade 8 and Grade 12) were attacked,” Grant said. All three pupils were admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital.

While the Grade 11 and Grade 8 pupil were discharged, the Grade 12 pupil had to undergo surgery to his hand.

Police spokesman Frederick van Wyk confirmed that five suspects were arrested and would be charged with attempted murder.

He said one of the get-away cars was spotted near Windsor High School, where they were eventually arrested.

“Initial investigations at the scene have ascertained that over the past weekend an argument ensued between one of the Livingstone High School pupils and one of the suspects at a rugby event, which led to the attack on Wednesday,” Van Wyk said.

The school refused to comment, referring all inquiries to the Department of Education.

Meanwhile, Grant commended Livingstone High School pupils for taking down registration numbers of the suspects’ cars and for assisting in their identification.

Grant said the use of violence as a means of solving differences was unacceptable.