By Zanele Makola
A Grade 11 learner was fatally stabbed outside Lesedi Secondary School in Mamelodi East on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, shortly after completing his final midterm exam.
Nineteen-year-old Lethabo Mokonyane Matula was attacked while boarding scholar transport near the school gates in the informal settlement. His death has sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited public concern over school safety and violence among learners.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that two Grade 12 learners, both aged 19, have been arrested in connection with the stabbing. According to preliminary investigations, the incident may be linked to a past bullying dispute involving the victim—a matter his family believed had long been resolved.
“This is a devastating loss,” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, who condemned the killing in the strongest terms. “Schools must remain sanctuaries for learning, not scenes of brutality.”
In the aftermath, the Gauteng Department of Education has dispatched psychologists and members of its school safety unit to support traumatised learners, staff, and the Matula family.
The suspects appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on Friday, June 20, 2025, where they faced murder charges. The case has been postponed to June 27 for further investigation.
As law enforcement and education authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, the community continues to mourn the life of a young man whose future was cut short.
“This tragedy is a wake-up call,” said a local community leader. “We need to ensure our children are safe not just in classrooms, but from the moment they step onto school grounds.”
