Victor Hlungwani

Schools celebrated Valentine's Day in various ways on Wednesday, but there was no joy for a school principal after an allegedly drunk schoolboy stabbed him with a garden fork .

Justice Maluleke, 47, principal of Jim Yingwani High School at Dumela village near Malamulele in Giyani, Limpopo, nearly lost his left eye when the grade 12 pupil attacked him.

The pupil allegedly became aggressive when teachers sent him home and told him to come back the next day when he was sober.

The pupil pleaded guilty in the Malamulele magistrates' court to a charge of assault.

He apologised, saying: "I regard the principal as my parent and I regret what I did because I was under the influence of alcohol."

He was released into his parents' custody and the case was postponed to Monday for sentencing.

Limpopo education spokesman, Ndo Mangala, said the offence was serious and the school would have to institute a disciplinary hearing.