A 17-year-old Dobsonville, Soweto, pupil who stabbed a teacher yesterday is expected to appear in court today.

The boy said before his arrest that he bought the knife on Wednesday to be ready in case he had a run-in with the teacher.

Pupils at PJ Simelane Secondary School have accused the teacher, Thembi Sithole, of being overzealous in punishing them. But the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) was quick to deny that the attack was related to their call that pupils should wage war on teachers who beat them.

When Sowetan went to the Grade 9 pupil's home yesterday, he said: "I want to apologise to the teacher. I am so scared right now."

Pupils at the school said that teacher, who is recovering at Tshepo Themba Hospital, was a disciplinarian. "When your class teacher does not want to beat you herself, they send you to her," a pupil said.

The teacher allegedly slapped and caned the pupil on Wednesday. After the beating, the boy went to buy a knife.

Yesterday, Sithole apparently slapped the boy for being late and he stabbed her in the stomach.

"I ran away because I was so scared," the pupil said.

Dobsonville police arrested him at his home yesterday.

One of his classmates said: "He is a very smart boy. He's also very quiet and I have never seen him fight anyone."

Addressing pupils, the ANC Women's League's Buyi Majola said: "You have rights but your rights also come with responsibilities. You can be poor but that does not justify harming people. Education is nothing if you do not respect people."

Gauteng Education department's Charles Phahlane said the pupil was suspended with immediate effect.

Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said: "The boy will be charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm."

Sadtu regional secretary Ronald Nyathi said: "We blame the department and Cosas. We have reported 17 cases of violence against teachers to the department and they have done nothing.

"Cosas is encouraging learners to beat teachers."