Komatipoort - Mpumalanga's Education Department has expressed concern over bullying in schools after the death of a second pupil in two weeks.
Department spokesperson Jasper Zwane said the department had sent psychologists to the private Shammah College in KaMhlushwa near Malalane to counsel traumatised pupils after 18-year-old Dumisani Nkala was shot dead during a matric study camp on Sunday night.
"This is shocking because two weeks ago we buried another learner who was stabbed to death by a classmate. Now one has been shot dead and both the accused and the deceased were in Grade 12," said Zwane.
He said MEC Reginah Mhaule had sent condolences to the family of the deceased.
"The department will also investigate negligence in relation to the shooting," Zwane said.
A pupil has been arrested in connection with Nkala's murder. Sibusiso Malibe, 19, appeared in the Tonga Magistrate's Court on charges of murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition on Tuesday.
He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until his bail application on Friday.
He is accused of shooting Nkala and leaving him to die in the school's toilets on Sunday night.
Tonga police spokesperson Sergeant Mzwandile Nyambi said police had confiscated an unlicensed firearm with one bullet in it. "We suspect that the gun had two bullets and that one could have been used in the murder," said Nyambi.
Nyambi also said police were still investigating how the gun was smuggled into the school premises.
"We also need to establish the motive for the murder," said Nyambi.
The principal of the college, Advocate Malindzisa, said the incident happened after night studies at about 10pm on Sunday.
"The victim was followed into the shower room where he was shot in the toilet. We don't know what sparked the shooting. His attacker left him to die at the toilet but he survived the night and died at Rob Ferreira Hospital the next morning," said Malindzisa.
Malindzisa said security guards did not hear the gunshot.
Pupils had been camping at the school to study for their final matric exams since October 24. The school management believes the gun could have been smuggled into the school premises during that time.
