A Gauteng high school pupil has died after he was allegedly kicked in the head during a school brawl last week.
Neo Mabaso, 19, died in hospital after the fight last Tuesday at Sir Pierre van Ryneveld High in Kempton Park.
Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona told TimesLIVE the department is “extremely sad to learn about the death of a grade 11 pupil from Sir Pierre van Ryneveld High”.
“It is alleged pupils from the school and Sunrise Combined College were involved in a fight which led to the deceased sustaining serious injuries on September 7 2022. Emergency medical services and the parents of the injured pupil were immediately called. He was stabilised and transferred to Tembisa Hospital,” Mabona said.
“Unfortunately the pupil died in hospital the next day.
“Our psychosocial support team was dispatched to the school to provide the necessary support. We would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family and the school’s community.”
Mabona said the school has launched an investigation, “and necessary disciplinary process will be facilitated”.
“We urge all our pupils to refrain from acts of misconduct in schools, and implore parents to assist the department in instilling pupil discipline in and outside the school environment.”
Neo’s grandfather, Jack Mongezi Marele, is heartbroken.
“There was a fight outside the school last Tuesday. My grandson had swelling on the brain and was rushed to Tembisa Hospital, where he passed away from his injuries a day later.”
He said he doesn’t know the reason behind the brawl but alleged three youngsters involved were now "on the run".
“Three other boys who were involved in the fight have gone on the run. According to what we hear from other kids, two boys are hiding in Limpopo and another in KwaZulu-Natal. We heard from kids because the police and the school are not talking to us.”
He said Mabaso was an arty child.
“He was not into sports at all. He loved to draw and do art. My grandson intended to study graphic design when he finished school,” Marele said.
“He lived with his father and two brothers, one younger and one older than him.”
He said he registered a case with police last week.
“Nobody else did anything. I went to Kempton Park police station last Wednesday evening and only left there after midnight.”
Marele claims his family has had little to no support from the school and police since then.
“Since my grandson’s death the principal came to us twice to commiserate, but there was no further sharing of information.
“One teacher came to see me yesterday. It looks like there is a violent situation brewing at the school and the teacher wanted me to go to school to talk to the kids so they calm down. I just said, ‘No, not now while we are dealing with our loss and trying to heal.’ We need time to deal with this tragedy.
“We are hoping we can bury our boy on Saturday, but even that is not clear if it will be possible at present.”
In a video of the fight, supplied by a source close to the deceased’s family, an altercation is under way in the foreground with pupils in school uniforms wildly swinging at each other.
In the background, Mabaso can be seen falling down next to the school fence and lying still. Another pupil is briefly seen kicking him before other pupils intervene.
Police spokesperson Capt Mavela Masondo told TimesLIVE Premium the incident happened between pupils from two different schools in Kempton Park.
“[They] were involved in a fight outside the school premises. A murder case is under investigation. No arrests have been made yet.”
TimesLIVE
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