Six teenagers have been arrested in the Eastern Cape in connection with the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old pupil at Humansdorp Senior Secondary School.
Police confirmed on Wednesday that four minors, aged 16 and 17, along with two 18-year-olds, were traced and located near the gravel road leading to Oyster Bay shortly after the attack. They have since been detained on a charge of murder.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said the suspects were questioned before being taken into custody. “The four minors will be processed to appear in the children’s court, while the other two suspects will appear in the Humansdorp magistrate’s court on Thursday,” Nkohli explained.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday morning, shortly after 8am, when an altercation broke out at the school premises. Witnesses reported chaos as a fight escalated, leaving one matric pupil with critical stab wounds.
Emergency responders from Rapid Emergency Medical Services (Rems) and metro EMS rushed to the scene. Paramedics found the 18-year-old with severe injuries to his upper torso. “Despite all efforts, the pupil had sustained a fatal wound and showed no signs of life. He was pronounced deceased by Rems paramedics,” the service confirmed.
The violent attack has cast a shadow over the school community, with many expressing shock and concern about the growing trend of weapons being brought into schools. Rems raised alarm about the pattern, noting: “This incident comes amid recent reports of scholars harming one another with sharp objects during school hours.”
Police have not yet released the name of the deceased as formal identification and family notifications are still under way. However, the victim was understood to be a matriculant preparing for his final examinations, which are due to begin within weeks.
The arrests came within hours of the killing, with detectives focusing their search on escape routes leading away from the school. Their efforts led them to a group of six teenagers gathered along the gravel road to Oyster Bay. It was there that police moved in and detained the suspects, believed to have fled the scene together after the stabbing.
The swift response from investigators has been welcomed by the community, though the incident has heightened concerns about school safety in the Eastern Cape and beyond.
Humansdorp Senior Secondary, one of the oldest schools in the area, has had to contend with challenges of overcrowding, limited resources, and rising youth violence. Tuesday’s tragedy has reignited debate about how to protect pupils from escalating violence within school grounds.
Authorities have appealed to parents and community leaders to play a stronger role in addressing violence among pupils. Police said that while they remain committed to investigating and prosecuting such crimes, broader interventions are needed to deal with the root causes.
The Department of Education in the province has yet to comment formally on the incident, but officials are expected to visit the school to meet staff, learners, and parents.
Meanwhile, counsellors are being arranged to provide psychological support to pupils and educators who witnessed the stabbing. School officials said the trauma caused by the incident will require careful handling, especially as matric learners prepare for their exams.
Police have emphasised that investigations are ongoing and that additional charges may follow depending on the outcome of forensic reports and witness statements. At this stage, all six suspects are being held on the main charge of murder.
The case will now proceed along two tracks: the four minors are expected to appear in the children’s court, while the two 18-year-olds will face charges in the Humansdorp magistrate’s court.
Eastern Cape authorities have promised to keep the public informed as the case unfolds.
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