THREE more teenage pupils have been arrested for allegedly being in possession of deadly weapons, including a Ninja sword and a machete, during classes.

Police were called to Phanagela Junior Secondary School in Tweefontein, Mpumalanga, yesterday by a Grade 9 class teacher.

The teacher had noticed strained relations between two groups of pupils in the classroom yesterday morning.

Police rounded up some of the suspects, all aged 17 years, and questioned them.

Tweefontein police spokesperson Inspector Patrick Mabena said three pupils were arrested and later released into the custody of their guardians.

It was discovered that trouble between the two groups of pupils started at the weekend when a member of one group allegedly took a hat belonging to a member of the other group.

Both groups apparently decided to settle the matter at school.

He said some of the pupils confessed to having brought weapons and that they had stashed them in the ceiling of their classroom.

Police found deadly weapons, including a metre-long Ninja sword, a machete and a panga.

The weapons were confiscated and the boys arrested, Mabena said.

He said the three pupils are expected to appear in the KwaMhlanga magistrate's court on charges of possessing dangerous weapons.

Last week, police at Rietgat in Soshanguve, Pretoria, arrested a 17-year-old Grade 10 pupil at Kgadime Matsepe Secondary School for being in possession of a stolen pistol with two magazines.

He allegedly stole it from his neighbour's house and brought it to school to show it to his friends. The principal notified the police, who arrested the pupil.

The same pupil had an outstanding housebreaking and theft case, according to Inspector Lolo Mangena of the Rietgat police.