Teen held for Indian origin schoolboy's murder

An 18-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with the murder of an Indian origin school student in this South African city earlier this week and attempting to murder his elder brother.

Darshan Moodley, 16, was stabbed to death in the early hours of Sunday at Chartsworth, an area in Durban largely dominated by people of Indian origin, and his 18-year-old brother Revarsheen had to be taken to hospital for treatment after the incident.

Police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane said the brothers were attacked by a seven-member gang, the Daily News newspaper reported Tuesday. 

“It is alleged that an argument arose between the victims and the suspects,” Zwane was quoted as saying. 

The detained youth, whose identity has not been revealed, is set to appear in court Thursday. 

According to the brothers' father, Jayce Doodley, the incident had its roots in a recent incident in their school, Welebedene Secondary School, when another student hit Darshan for speaking to his sister.

Darshan fought back but the other student took out a knife and stabbed him.

Then, in the early hours of Sunday, when the brothers were on their way home after visiting a local fair, they were attacked by the gang that left Darshan dead and his brother injured. 

The student who had attacked Darshan in school was part of the gang.