A grieving Umlazi mother is wondering what argument led to her matriculant son being assaulted and strangled with his tie, then made to sit with his injuries in the school office before she was alerted and took him to a hospital four hours later where he died.
Alwande Mdabe, 20, from Ekwazini Secondary School in Umlazi was writing his trial exams last Thursday when an argument broke out.
His aunt Thembelihle Mdabe, 53, said: “From what we are told by some school learners Alwande said something during the exam paper which apparently became the subject of a brawl in which a classmate felt he was being insulted. We are told that at least three of the learners were involved.”
The matter escalated when several pupils allegedly accosted Mdabe in the toilet shortly after 10am.
“We are told Alwande was overpowered by his attackers, and one of them claimed to have boasted he was untouchable as his father was a notorious hitman,” she said.
Thembelihle said they were puzzled when they were told he collapsed from his injuries, but wasn't taken to hospital or the doctor.
“All we know is teachers were unwilling to transport Alwande to hospital, with some of them saying that their vehicles were not ambulances,” she said.
It was only at about 2pm that his mother, Thabisile, was finally alerted to the incident and arrived at the school to take him to Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. He was later transferred to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, where he died.
Thembelihle said they were angry to learn the principal had apparently initially misled them about having phoned the police after the incident.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said a 21-year-old appeared in the Umlazi magistrate's court on Monday.
“Reports indicate a suspect strangled and assaulted the victim after an argument. He sustained head injuries and was taken to hospital where he later died,” said Netshiunda.
Angry community members including members of the MK party on Tuesday staged a protest outside the school calling for tighter control of school violence.
As Thembelihle recounted the incident on Thursday, a steady stream of mourners arrived at the Mdabe home to sympathise with the family.
She said the family was demanding answers from the school for failing to deal with school violence.
Thembelihle said the incident was a huge blow for Alwande’s unemployed mother who had hoped he would complete school and either study or contribute an income.
“Alwande’s older brother is unemployed and Thabisile has been lamenting how her loss will impact the family,” she said.
She said their financial situation meant he had to walk to school. “His mother lacked the means. He [Alwande] knew that very well and often vowed that once he finished school he would help his mother,” said Thembelihle.
“He was amazing and a reserved child and we know he had in the past had issues with the suspect. But that issue, we thought, had long been resolved.”
She said the teachers and some parents visited their home to pay their respects.
Thembelihle said the suspect's family were afraid to visit them owing to the circumstances, but they had made contact with them.
“We told the family it was OK because we know for a fact that no parent sends their child to school to kill a fellow learner.”
The aunt said the school principal was a no-show.
The family had not yet decided when to bury Alwande.
KwaZulu-Natal education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi didn't respond to queries about the incident.
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