Lost cell phone sparked Hoërskool Elspark violence, says Lesufi

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi visited the school, east of Johannesburg, on Tuesday morning.

Lesufi said preliminary investigations suggest the violence was sparked by a lost cell phone.

"It started on Friday and spilt over to Monday and as I'm speaking to you, there are two leaners that have been hospitalised. They have been rushed to theater because the middle finger is hanging and the other learner, they pulled a knife in his hand," said Lesufi.

The person responsible for stabbing the pupils has not been identified.

The violence comes amid reports of racial tensions at the school, something which Lesufi downplayed.

He said racial tensions are to be expected when different races are integrated, but it’s up to school to manage.

"This is the South Africa we are going to, and we have to take our kids alone. We cannot have a South Africa that believes other people are not important - we are all important. If the school believes they need support, we will provide the support," said the MEC.

The School Governing Body (SGB) has also launched an investigation into the matter.