Pupil stabbed at Florida Park High

24 February 2009

A grade 12 pupil was stabbed and wounded, allegedly by another boy
at Florida Park High School on Johannesburg's West Rand on Tuesday,
Gauteng police said.

"Both boys, aged 17, got into a fight during the tea-break at
9.45am," said Captain Lydia Mtila Dikolomela.

The alleged attacker was in grade 11.

"I am not sure what the fight was about, but the grade 11 pupil took
out a knife from his pocket during a scuffle, and stabbed the other boy
in the stomach."

She said teachers intervened and managed to separate the two.

Paramedics were called to the school and the grade 11 boy was taken
to Florida police station.

"The teachers brought him in with blood-stained hands. He is still
here, but not in custody. His parents were called in as well,"
Dikolomela said.

Netcare 911 paramedics spokesman Mark Stokoe said the stabbed pupil
was treated at the school and was lucky not to have been seriously
wounded.

"He sustained quite a deep slash wound to the stomach, and was taken
to Krugersdorp Hospital where he received stitches. He is in a stable
condition," Stokoe said.

Gauteng department of education said the stabbed boy was Jimmy
Magopane. It sent a message of support to Magopane.

"The school will institute its own disciplinary hearing against the
learner [alleged attacker] after his release," the department said in a statement.- Sapa