Police arrest suspect after fatal pupil altercation during class change, education officials condemn violence. Picture Credit: Pexels
By Aisha Zardad
Mpumalanga – A Grade 11 learner was fatally stabbed by a fellow pupil on school grounds in Mpumalanga’s Steve Tshwete Municipality, authorities said, as law enforcement launched a murder investigation into the tragic incident.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, at LD Moetanalo Secondary School, where the victim, an 18-year-old pupil, was involved in a physical altercation with a 20-year-old Grade 10 learner during breaktime or while pupils were moving between classes, according to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane. The encounter escalated and the Grade 11 learner was allegedly stabbed.
Emergency medical services were called to the scene, but the teenager was certified dead upon their arrival, police confirmed. Meanwhile, the suspect fled immediately after the incident, but was later arrested and is expected to appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on a murder charge, the authorities said.
The fatal stabbing has drawn swift condemnation from education and police authorities, who emphasised that violence in schools is unacceptable and poses threats to learners, teachers, and other staff. Provincial Education MEC Lindi Masina and other officials are expected to visit the school and the bereaved family to offer condolences and to ensure that support services are provided to those affected.
The Mpumalanga Department of Education has stressed the importance of maintaining school safety and wellbeing, saying acts of violence undermine students’ rights to a safe learning environment and highlight broader concerns about discipline and security in educational settings. Officials said they will work with law enforcement to investigate the circumstances, address underlying issues, and provide psychosocial support to the school community.
As the community comes to terms with the loss, education and safety stakeholders have urged parents, learners and school staff to collaborate in preventing similar incidents and ensuring that schools remain spaces of learning, not harm.
