Murder after exams: Teenage boy stabbed to death at ‘pens down’ jol
BRUTAL DEATH: Sikhusele Joel, 14, died on Sunday. Picture supplied
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested for stabbing a teenager at a “pens down” jol.
Fourteen-year-old Sikhusele Joel died in the early hours of Sunday in Witsand, Atlantis.
His hartseer ma Nosipho says she was woken up by her son’s friends.
“I last saw him on Saturday around 9pm. He didn’t tell me where he was going but I suspect it was the pens down party.
“I was sleeping when his friends came knocking at my place and told me that my son had been stabbed near a tavern but he was stabbed during a street fight,” she explains.
Nosipho says when she arrived at the scene, her son was already taken to hospital.
“We rushed there and I was told that the doctors were still busy with him.
“And then he came out and told me that Sikhusele had just taken his last breath and that is how I lost him.”
Nosipho says she is not familiar with the teen charged with her son’s murder.
“I don’t believe that Sikhusele was friends with his killer,” she adds.
“When I asked the friends what happened they told me the suspect was trying to stop a fight and my son slapped him, but instead of slapping back, he took out a knife and stabbed him.
“Sikhusele was my last-born son, he was in Grade 7, he had his whole life ahead of him but it was cut off just like that.”
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirms: “The motive for the attack is yet to be determined.
“A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the murder and he appeared in the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court.”
Meanwhile, Education MEC David Maynier has urged matriculants not to go bos at pens down parties.
Maynier sent out a special message to the class of 2022, as the Plett and Ballito rages, two of the traditional and biggest matric jol events, are set to happen this weekend.
“It is understandable that the class of 2022 would like to let their hair down and celebrate the end of a difficult few years at school, but we urge them to do so responsibly and in moderation, especially in terms of alcohol consumption.”