A 13-year-old pupil who was killed allegedly by his classmate is the second stabbing victim at a North West primary school in three months.

Madan Motlhamme, popularly known as Paki, was stabbed in his stomach on Tuesday.

North West police spokesperson Capt Sam Tselanyane said the suspect was arrested the same day and appeared in the Atamelang magistrate's court yesterday.

He said they were investigating to ascertain the motive behind the attack at Mateane Primary School in Diretsane, Delareyville.

Tselanyane said the suspect was reportedly trying to break up a fight among a group of boys but police were aware that there were conflicting versions of the incident.

"We don't know what precisely happened there. We are relying on witness statements and we can comment based on what they are telling us."

Madan's uncle Abram Lesesa said what saddened the family was that there had been previous violent incidents and stabbings at the same school, claiming that there had been five stabbing incidents in the past year.

"I am boiling, this has made me to question the management of the school, they should have avoided this immediately after the first boy was stabbed."

Lesesa said Madan was unlucky not to survive the stabbing as the four others were.

"I am going to wait and see what government is going to do with this situation. They saw what happened, this trend cannot be allowed anymore," Lesesa said, threatening to shut down the school.

Madan's mother Gloria Motlhamme said her heart broke after looking at her son's lifeless body.

"I saw a hole in his stomach, he was not breathing. I cried, I cried a lot," she said.

Motlhamme said the school told her that after her son was stabbed they rushed him to the local clinic where he was certified dead.

"He was a quiet boy; he drank his tea for breakfast and said 'bye bye' to me. Little did I know that it was for the last time I hear his voice," she said.

North West MEC Sello Lehari also visited the school yesterday. His spokesperson Freddy Sepeng had a different version of events. He said Madan went to the toilet and another boy followed him.

"It is not clear what transpired between the two learners at the toilet as there was no eye witness."

Yesterday, national department of basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said violence at schools continued to be a concern.

Mhlanga said the department was working with other departments such as the SAPS to work towards safer schools and communities.

He said initiatives such as the National Junior Commissioner competition ensured that pupils take charge of their safety and refrain from endangering others. "It's the mind frame of the child we need to deal with," Mhlanga said.