A pupil from a rural high school near Port St Johns was allegedly stabbed to death by a fellow student on Tuesday in what is believed to be a love triangle fight over a schoolgirl.
In a shocking twist the girl, Zimkhitha Pasi, 19, allegedly took her own life after the stabbing.
Sixolele Yizwaphi, 19, a Gcinumthetho Senior Secondary School pupil in Machibi village, allegedly stabbed Sihle Mngangwa, 22, during break time.
The two had allegedly quarrelled over Pasi on Friday. All three were in Grade 10.
The South African national flag was flying at half mast yesterday at the school as teachers, pupils and the school governing body mourned the tragic deaths.
When the Daily Dispatch visited yesterday, pupils had not yet been told that Pasi had taken her own life.
Gcinumthetho SSS principal Sizwe Qatyana said he had informed Libode district education officials about the tragedy and had requested that psychologists be sent to counsel pupils.
Yizwaphi was arrested on Tuesday night at his Mbabalane village home after he fled the school following the stabbing.
Pasi’s grandmother Mathembinkosi Majali, 71, said it appeared her granddaughter had hanged herself in the early hours of yesterday morning.
She did not leave a note.
“She came back from the school (on Tuesday) earlier than usual and she was not the same child that we know. She hardly touched her food and went to watch TV in the other room alone,” said Majali.
The grandmother said Pasi had woken at around 4am yesterday morning and they had thought she was preparing for school.
Her body was found hanging in an unoccupied house at about 7.30am by an eight-year-old boy.
“When (the boy) called me, I thought maybe he was seeing a snake because he kept on telling me to hurry. Then I saw her and she was already dead.
“I heard from her peers she was dating the dead boy but she unfortunately did not leave any note. This is very traumatising, especially for the children who saw her,” said Majali.
When the Dispatch arrived at the scene after 10am, Pasi’s body was still hanging in the house as forensic pathology services workers were waiting for a photographer before she could be taken down.
She was eventually taken to a government mortuary in Lusikisiki that after noon.
A relative of Mngangwa’s, David Magabela, said they were still battling to come to terms with his death.
“We are really hurt by this tragic death. We never expected this to happen at the school because that is where they should be the safest.
“But we cannot blame the school or anyone for this because they are searched on arrival at the school – but kids will always have their ways of sneaking in things,” he said.
Qatyana, who rushed Mngangwa to Khohlo clinic where he was declared dead on arrival, led a team of teachers, traditional leaders and SGB members to Pasi’s home in Ngxongweni village yesterday – about 7km from the school.
He described the two deaths as the saddest in the history of the school.
“I am absolutely devastated and shocked,” he said.
“You would not even expect that such a thing would happen during break because children are supposed to be playing at the time.”
He said pupils were searched on arrival at the school.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in PSJ called on government, teachers, parents, pupils and communities to work together to protect pupils.
PSJ Sadtu branch secretary Sonandi Besuthu said: “This is cause for concern. Our schools are turning into battlefields and war zones. Another pupil from Tombo Junior Secondary School is currently fighting for his life in hospital after he was also stabbed.”
Machibi traditional leader Nolundi Meji could not hold back her tears on seeing Pasi’s body.
She later said she would appeal to the PSJ municipality to help bury the two pupils as their families were struggling financially.
Police spokesman Captain Mduduzi Godlwana confirmed that Yizwaphi would appear in the PSJ Magistrate’s Court today on a murder charge. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
Two die in school love triangle
In a shocking twist the girl, Zimkhitha Pasi, 19, allegedly took her own life after the stabbing.
Sixolele Yizwaphi, 19, a Gcinumthetho Senior Secondary School pupil in Machibi village, allegedly stabbed Sihle Mngangwa, 22, during break time.
The two had allegedly quarrelled over Pasi on Friday. All three were in Grade 10.
The South African national flag was flying at half mast yesterday at the school as teachers, pupils and the school governing body mourned the tragic deaths.
When the Daily Dispatch visited yesterday, pupils had not yet been told that Pasi had taken her own life.
Gcinumthetho SSS principal Sizwe Qatyana said he had informed Libode district education officials about the tragedy and had requested that psychologists be sent to counsel pupils.
Yizwaphi was arrested on Tuesday night at his Mbabalane village home after he fled the school following the stabbing.
Pasi’s grandmother Mathembinkosi Majali, 71, said it appeared her granddaughter had hanged herself in the early hours of yesterday morning.
She did not leave a note.
“She came back from the school (on Tuesday) earlier than usual and she was not the same child that we know. She hardly touched her food and went to watch TV in the other room alone,” said Majali.
The grandmother said Pasi had woken at around 4am yesterday morning and they had thought she was preparing for school.
Her body was found hanging in an unoccupied house at about 7.30am by an eight-year-old boy.
“When (the boy) called me, I thought maybe he was seeing a snake because he kept on telling me to hurry. Then I saw her and she was already dead.
“I heard from her peers she was dating the dead boy but she unfortunately did not leave any note. This is very traumatising, especially for the children who saw her,” said Majali.
When the Dispatch arrived at the scene after 10am, Pasi’s body was still hanging in the house as forensic pathology services workers were waiting for a photographer before she could be taken down.
She was eventually taken to a government mortuary in Lusikisiki that after noon.
A relative of Mngangwa’s, David Magabela, said they were still battling to come to terms with his death.
“We are really hurt by this tragic death. We never expected this to happen at the school because that is where they should be the safest.
“But we cannot blame the school or anyone for this because they are searched on arrival at the school – but kids will always have their ways of sneaking in things,” he said.
Qatyana, who rushed Mngangwa to Khohlo clinic where he was declared dead on arrival, led a team of teachers, traditional leaders and SGB members to Pasi’s home in Ngxongweni village yesterday – about 7km from the school.
He described the two deaths as the saddest in the history of the school.
“I am absolutely devastated and shocked,” he said.
“You would not even expect that such a thing would happen during break because children are supposed to be playing at the time.”
He said pupils were searched on arrival at the school.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in PSJ called on government, teachers, parents, pupils and communities to work together to protect pupils.
PSJ Sadtu branch secretary Sonandi Besuthu said: “This is cause for concern. Our schools are turning into battlefields and war zones. Another pupil from Tombo Junior Secondary School is currently fighting for his life in hospital after he was also stabbed.”
Machibi traditional leader Nolundi Meji could not hold back her tears on seeing Pasi’s body.
She later said she would appeal to the PSJ municipality to help bury the two pupils as their families were struggling financially.
Police spokesman Captain Mduduzi Godlwana confirmed that Yizwaphi would appear in the PSJ Magistrate’s Court today on a murder charge. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
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