A stabbing at Oakdale Secondary School on Thursday has left one student dead and another hospitalized, officials confirmed. The stabbing incident occurred during a morning fight outside the school premises.

MEC for Education and Youth Development in Gauteng, Matome Chiloane, issued a lengthy statement through the department’s spokesperson, underscoring their commitment to battling serious and violent crime head-on in schools.

“It is alleged that this incident is the result of a fight that broke out among learners on Tuesday, February 7, 2024. Furthermore, there are allegations of the fight and stabbing incident being influenced by prevalent gangsterism among learners from different schools in the area,reads the media statement.

Details surrounding the incident remain sketchy.

The statement further indicated that the Department dispatched its Psycho-Social Support Unit to provide counseling to those who witnessed the traumatic incident.

“It is with great sadness that we confirm a stabbing incident that took place in a school and claimed the life of one of our learners while injuring another. No child must ever be harmed, especially in our school environment. As such, we call upon our law enforcement agencies to ensure justice prevails. Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased learner, as well as the learner who is currently recovering in the hospital.”