Pupil dies after assault at school

A 19-year-old girl grade 12 pupil in South Africa has died after sustaining injuries during an alleged assault at a school in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, the provincial education department said on Monday.

The pupil was allegedly assaulted on Friday, taken to hospital and subsequently died, spokesman Jasper Zwane said in a statement.

Zwane said there were allegations the pupil was assaulted by the owner of the independent school, but he could not confirm this.

Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said an inquest was opened. Post-mortem results would confirm if she was assaulted, and whether the assault was the cause of her death, he said.

The department would also investigate the matter.