A Grade 9 learner was stabbed by a fellow learner

School learners across South Africa have been wreaking havoc all week, with the latest incident occurring on Thursday at a school in the Eastern Cape.
A Grade 9 learner from Enkwenkwezini Senior Secondary School in Alice, in the Amathole West Education District, was assaulted and stabbed with scissors by two fellow learners.
The Eastern Cape Department of Education condemned the act of violence and acknowledged the swift response of the school principal and staff who immediately assisted the victim, notified the parents, and reported the matter to the police.
The Department’s Director of Communications, Vuyiseka Mboxela, confirmed police apprehended the perpetrators (learners).
“The department appreciates the work of the police, which led to the accused being apprehended. The Department is relieved to report that the condition of the learner is stable and that they were able to identify the perpetrators, who are believed to be fellow learners. The department has deployed its Circuit Manager, school inspectors, and psychosocial support staff to the school to provide support to learners and ensure a safe learning environment,” Mboxela said.
The Department said it is working closely with the police and parents to address the incident and has urged learners to refrain from violent behaviour.
“We emphasise the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful school environment, where learners can focus on their education without fear. The Department will continue to provide support to the affected learner and the school community, while also taking steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future,” Mboxela said.