Eerste River School Stabbing: 2 Learners Injured in Fight | South Africa

Two Learners Hospitalized After Stabbing at Eerste River Secondary School

A violent altercation at Eerste River Secondary School in Cape Town, South Africa, this morning left two learners hospitalized with serious injuries. The incident, a stabbing that occurred during a school assembly, has prompted investigations by both police and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).

According to police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, Kleinvlei police responded to reports of a stabbing at the school on Beverley Street. “Preliminary reports suggest that two learners stabbed each other and were taken to a medical facility for treatment where their conditions are serious,” Twigg reported. Police have registered cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Individuals can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or utilize the MySAPS mobile application anonymously.

The two students involved are a Grade 9 learner and a Grade 12 learner. Bronagh Hammond, Director of Communications for the WCED, confirmed that the school will be initiating disciplinary procedures against the students involved. “Initial reports indicate that this morning, during the school assembly, a Grade 9 and a Grade 12 learner got into an altercation and allegedly stabbed each other,” Hammond stated. “The two learners have been sent to a medical facility for medical attention.”

The incident highlights a growing concern regarding violence in South African schools. Recent data from the Cape Argus, reported in September, revealed that the WCED recorded 454 incidents of assault on school property between January 2025 and July 2025 involving learners. This alarming statistic underscores a broader trend of increasing violence affecting students.

The National Professional Teacher’s Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) has also raised concerns, reporting that since January 2025, 563 children have been victims of violence, leading to increased absenteeism and feelings of victimisation. NAPTOSA attributes this rise, in part, to the spillover of gang activity into school environments.

Kerry Mauchline, spokesperson for MEC for Education David Maynier, previously confirmed that assaults on school grounds across the Western Cape have included incidents involving weapons. While details surrounding the specific cause of the altercation at Eerste River Secondary remain under investigation, the incident adds to the mounting evidence of a troubling pattern of violence within the region’s schools.

The WCED has not released further information at this stage, but the investigation is ongoing. The school is cooperating with authorities, and disciplinary action is expected to be taken against the learners involved, following the completion of the police investigation and internal school procedures.