Primary school pupil stabs 12-year-old boy dead

A boy has been arrested after a pupil was stabbed to death at Bula Dikgoro Primary School in Mamelodi, Gauteng police said on Tuesday.

"Mamelodi police are investigating a case of murder and a suspect was arrested and kept at a place of safety, as he is a minor," Captain Doniah Mothutsane said.

"He is appearing at the Mamelodi Magistrate's Court later today."

The boy was arrested after he allegedly stabbed a 12-year-old grade six pupil at the school on Monday morning.

The Gauteng education department said on Monday the school immediately called an ambulance and the police. Paramedics certified the 12-year-old pupil dead on the scene.

Spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane said on Tuesday it was difficult for the department to comment on the incident, as it was running an investigation parallel to that of the police.

"We are looking at the circumstances of the incident...how it happened," she said.

Trauma counselling would be provided by the department to the 12-year-old's family and pupils at the school.

"We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of the learner who passed away, educators and fellow learners," she said.