A MATRIC pupil who was allegedly assaulted last week by security guards at the Chris Hani High School in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, was going to undergo surgery yesterday, the Tygerberg Hospital said.

"He is being prepared for theatre. It will be the first operation," hospital spokeswoman Laticia Pienaar said early yesterday.

While Pienaar denied claims that Mali-bongwe Malani's spine had been broken, she would not comment on the nature of his injuries. According to her his condition was stable.

A volunteer organisation, equal Educationbased in Khayelitsha said it had collected eyewitness accounts of the assault on Malani - allegedly by two volunteer security guards at the school.

The orgabisation said it was unclear from these reports whether school principal Madoda Mahlutshana had ordered them to manhandle Malani.

Equal Education spokesman Brad Brockman said the organisation called on the Western Cape education department to investigate the incident.

The department was not immediately available for comment.