A 20-year-old Limpopo schoolboy was found dead with stab wounds during a school camp at Ben Hlongwane High School in Tsamohanka, outside Makapane.
The body of Philemon Nkomo was found early Sunday morning on the school grounds. Nkomo has been in the camp with other students at the school since the 28th of last month to prepare for his secondary exams.
The school says the student was upset after being told to wash the dishes as punishment for misbehaving.
Philemon’s mother, Maria Nkoma, burst into tears as she struggles to bear the pain of losing her firstborn.
“I last spoke to him and saw him on the 18th. It is painful and unacceptable what happened to my son. Never thought he would come back from school camp dead. I was hoping that he would finish his studies and change my situation here at home.’
Maria Nkomo
The second case
November 28thousand marks the end of exams for Year 12 students at Ben Hlongwane High School.
The chairman of the school’s governing board, Patrick Baloyi, says Nkomo’s death has shocked them.
“Actually they said he had to wash the dishes early in the morning, this guy said, no, I can’t wash the dishes, I’d rather go home and eat at home. Too bad it doesn’t sit as well as it happened. I don’t know how,” adds Baloyi.
Nkomo’s death is the second incident in the province where graduates have died. Year 12 student Gift Mitchell of Leogatok High School in Burgersfort drowned in a local river last week.
Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mlango is calling on communities to help protect students.
“The Department of Education is saddened by the death of two students, they are Grade 12 students who are currently busy with exams. We have received word that one has drowned and the circumstances surrounding this are being investigated, while the other has been reported to have been stabbed to death and police are assisting with the investigation. We are concerned that we are losing students under questionable circumstances.”
The Department of Education says students at Ben Hlongwan will be given counseling before taking their final exam on Monday.
