Mpumalanga School Violence: Grade 11 Student Fatally Stabbed By Fellow Learner During Break
- An 18-year-old learner was fatally stabbed during break time at a Mpumalanga school
- It is alleged that an argument escalated to violence involving a Grade 10 and a Grade 11 learner at the school
- The South African Police Service in Mpumalanga arrested a 20-year-old suspect for the murder
Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.
Source: Getty Images
MPUMALANGA, MIDDELBURG - An 18-year-old learner was stabbed to death at a school in Mhluzi near Middelburg in Mpumalanga as schools entered their second week of reopening.
Grade 11 learner killed during break
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, during break time. Police said three male learners went to the back of the school premises, where an argument broke out and escalated into a physical confrontation. According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, preliminary investigations indicate that a 20-year-old Grade 10 learner became involved in a physical altercation with the 18-year-old Grade 11 learner, during which the victim was allegedly stabbed.
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Emergency medical services were called to the scene, but the learner was declared dead on arrival. The suspect fled the scene after the incident but was later arrested. The 20-year-old is expected to appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the violence, particularly as it occurred at a school. He described violence in educational institutions as unacceptable and urged learners, parents and communities to work closely with law enforcement to prevent similar incidents.
Source: Getty Images
What did South Africans say?
Social media users shared their opinions regarding the brutal stabbing.
Thabo Segone said:
"The government gave them rights. How is it going so far in terms of discipline? Even a teacher can't do anything if you fail as a parent."
Mzingisi Sammy said:
"Schoolmates also don't care; they don't mind. They don't report fighting at school. They entertained it."
Keziah Moodley said:
"This is so painful."
Kwazikwenkosi Wakwa Mngomezulu said:
"Yoh! What a bad start to the academic year."
Cedric Johnson said:
"Please don't carry knives. Rather, concentrate on your studies."
Maphe Nyilika said:
"20 years old, still in high school. Our kids ain't safe at all."
Similar incidents of school violence
There have been many similar incidents of violence in schools. Learners at a school in Lethabong, Tshwane East, received counselling after a grade 11 learner was stabbed to death in full view of his fellow learners. The suspect skipped school on the fateful day and waited for the victim after school hours before stabbing him to death.
The Hoerskool Roodepoort school principal was stabbed in Roodepoort, Gauteng, while she was trying to stop a fight between learners of the school and learners of West Ridge High School, a nearby school. She was wounded on the hand and was rushed to the hospital, where she was treated.
Mpumalanga learner arrested for stabbing friend to death
In a related article, Briefly News reported that a Mpumalanga learner was arrested after he stabbed his friend and killed him.
The two learners were on their way home from school when the suspect turned on the victim and stabbed him.
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Source: Briefly News
