Cape Town - Shock radiated through the Claremont community on Thursday after a serious stabbing incident occurred involving learners outside the Batavia School of Skills in Imam Haroon Street, Claremont, after 1pm on Wednesday.
Three learners sustained stab wounds and were sent to hospital for treatment.
Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the incident occurred at a bus stop after school hours.
An 18-year-old male was arrested. “Four learners were involved. One 18-year-old learner in Year 4 allegedly stabbed three other learners. Two were 18-year-old Year 4 learners and one was a 16-year-old Year 3 learner,” Hammond said.
She said the pupils were taken to hospital. Two were discharged on Wednesday afternoon, and one remained in hospital overnight in a stable condition .
“The alleged perpetrator has been apprehended by police. The WCED is providing counselling support to the school community,” Hammond said.
Police officer Wesley Twigg said Claremont police attended to the incident.
He said an assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm case was registered for investigation. Twigg said an 18-year-old male was arrested and was expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court once he had been charged.
Claremont Community Policing Forum chairperson Abdul Kerbelker said: “We are concerned at the levels of violence in our society and thus support our Claremont Social Crime officers’ interventions at schools to address this.
“We would hasten to add that, though violence is unacceptable, it is the first knife crime at school in Claremont this year.”
Kerbelker explained that the Claremont Social Crime officers were working with schools in Claremont, including Batavia, to address the issues of anti-social and criminal behaviour.
He appealed to schools and parents to take responsibility, together with the Claremont community, to ensure that dangerous weapons were not seen as the norm at schools.