A 38-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Mothibistad Magistrate's Court in Kuruman, Northern Cape, on Friday on allegations of murder.

This after a 17-year- old Grade 10 pupil at Makgolokwe Middle School at Batlharos village outside Kuruman was shot dead on school premises on Wednesday.

Police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Dimakatso Mooi said the suspect handed himself to the police after the incident and that they are still busy with investigations.

“The suspect told the police that a group of boys from the school attacked him with stones and he retaliated by shooting. Unfortunately, a 17-year-old boy was hit and he died at the scene,” Mooi said.

However, Mooi would not divulge if the suspect was passing by the school or was inside the school premises.

“We can't reveal much at the moment as we are still busy with investigations,” Mooi said.

Northern Cape education department spokesman Geoffrey van der Merwe said employee support services will be deployed to the school on Thursday to provide counselling to educators and learners.