Gauteng police have made a breakthrough and arrested two more suspects in the Mondeor High School stabbing in the early hours of Thursday morning, bringing the number of arrested suspects to three.
"The suspects were arrested in Soweto and Naturena ages both 15 years old, which brings the total number of the arrested suspects to three within 24 hours," Captain Kay Makhubele confirmed in a statement on Thursday.
This comes after Grade 11 pupil Kulani Mathebula was stabbed to death on his way to school on Wednesday morning.
Police on Wednesday formed a team of detectives who followed up the information from the scene, which led them to another school in Mondeor where one 13-year-old suspect attends. The teenager was arrested in the afternoon.
"The deceased, who was on his way to school, was attacked and stabbed to death by three other school boys from a nearby school in the area," said Makhubele.
ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said paramedics found the boy with a stab wound to the chest and no signs of life.
He said CPR was immediately initiated to try revive the patient.
"Unfortunately, after some time, no vital signs returned, and he was declared dead by another service," Meiring said.
His mother, Dumi Chauke, had cried "I want my son" as pathology services removed his body from a patch of grass, situated just 10 minutes away from the school. Mathebula was her only child.
Mondeor High School principal Vangelia Nicolaou was among the first at the scene. She said that, when she arrived, Mathebula was still breathing and his eyes were open. Next to him, lay his blazer, bags and shoes.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, who visited the school following the stabbing, said he was deeply shocked and saddened.
"It is saddening that instead of giving report cards I will be giving a death certificate to these parents. We take this time to send our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the school community of the said learner, during this time of grief," he said.
Pupils were being provided with counselling.