Everson Luhanga
Fights over girls between boys in schoolyards is a common occurrence. But a fight which took place at Pholosho Primary School in Alexandra ended in tragedy when 16-year-old Qhayiya Nkayi was stabbed to death.
The fight did not involve Nkayi but he intervened when he saw his friend had been beaten up.
“We had a fight over a girl that I am dating,” Nkayi’s friend, a 16-year-old learner from the school in Johannesburg, told Scrolla.Africa on Tuesday.
The boy, who survived with bruises on his upper lips, said he was fighting over a girl on Monday. He said the girl has also given a statement to the police.
“The first fight happened in the morning and ended up in the teacher’s office where teachers reprimanded us,” said the teenager.
“To me it was over, but during the break, my friend saw my bruises and he wanted revenge. The second fight resulted in him being stabbed to death.”
He said he heard that his friend had been killed when he and his other friends were in the teacher’s office about the second fight.
“He was my best friend. We used to walk to school and back together. He died fighting for me because we were so close,” said the teenager.
On Monday night, the father of the suspect, who is 15-years-old, handed him over to the police station where he was locked up.
Gauteng MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi visited the school and the deceased’s parents on Tuesday.
Addressing the media at the school, Lesufi said it was disheartening to see learners involved in issues of gangsterism, drugs and unnecessary fights.
“All I’ve gathered from the meeting I had with the school and parents is the issue of gangsterism, drugs and poor management at the school,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi applauded the parents of the suspect for taking their son to the police station.
The deceased’s distraught mother, Bukeka Nkayi, said police phoned her to tell her about her son’s death.
“I’m still in denial. We need more explanation about what really happened,” she said.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said police are investigating a case of murder.
