Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has expressed deep anguish following two separate incidents in which learners were fatally stabbed, underscoring growing concerns about youth violence in and around schools across the province.
The first incident involved a 17-year-old Grade 8 learner from Forest High School in Johannesburg, who was allegedly attacked on Friday, 20 March 2026. According to preliminary reports, the boy was severely beaten and stabbed at Rotunda Park, situated near the school, shortly after the end of the school day. He was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to another medical facility, where he succumbed to his injuries.
In a second, unrelated incident, a Grade 12 learner from Daleview Secondary School in Ennerdale was fatally stabbed on Monday, 23 March 2026. It is understood that the teenager was walking home after school when he was attacked in an open veld between the school and a nearby shop.
The Gauteng Department of Education confirmed that both matters are under police investigation, with authorities working to establish the circumstances and identify those responsible.
These tragedies come just weeks after another stabbing incident involving a learner in the province, where a high school pupil in the West Rand was critically injured during an altercation near school premises. While that learner survived, the incident added to a worrying pattern of violence affecting school communities.
Chiloane described the latest deaths as a devastating blow. “This is a deeply painful loss for our education community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and both school communities affected by these tragedies. Violence against our learners, whether within or outside school premises, is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” he said.
The department has since mobilised psycho-social support services to assist affected learners, educators, and grieving families. Counsellors are expected to remain on-site at both schools in the coming days.
The incidents have once again drawn attention to the broader issue of school-related violence in South Africa. According to data from recent years, thousands of violent incidents — including assaults, robberies, and stabbings — are reported annually at or near schools. A national school safety report previously indicated that weapons such as knives are among the most commonly confiscated items during random searches, highlighting the prevalence of dangerous objects in school environments.
In Gauteng specifically, education authorities have recorded a steady stream of violent incidents over the past five years, with hotspots often linked to areas where community crime levels are already high. Experts have pointed to factors such as gang activity, bullying, and disputes spilling over from communities into school spaces.
Chiloane has called on communities to play a more active role in safeguarding learners. “We urge parents, community leaders, and residents to work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Protecting our children is a collective responsibility,” he said.
As police investigations continue, the deaths have left two school communities in mourning, while raising urgent questions about how to better protect learners beyond the school gates.
