THE family of schoolboy who is now paralysed, after he was stabbed on school premises by a fellow pupil earlier this year, were left frustrated after a court sitting was adjourned this week.
The matter for Joshua Peterson, the 17 pupil pupil at West Ridge Secondary in Mayville, paralysed from the neck downwards, was adjourned to later this month.
Peterson's doctor has since confirmed that his paralysis was permanent.
Another 17-year-old pupil is the accused in the matter and has been granted bail.
Joshua’s uncle, Fernando Peterson, expressed his dismay at the delay in court proceedings, stressing that family hoped for swift justice.
"It’s terrible, it’s bad," he said.
“The person who did this to my nephew should be in jail. It’s painful to see Joshua lying in the hospital, helpless. He was a respectful young man, and now his future is destroyed."
The attack, which allegedly happened inside the school's premises, involved Joshua being stabbed twice, once in the neck and once in the abdomen. He has been receiving treatment at a hospital in Durban since the incident.
"Joshua had such a bright future, but now he can't do anything for himself, while the person who attacked him is out on bail. This is not justice," Fernando added. "He should be in custody until the investigation was complete."
A source close to the investigation revealed that a second pupil, also from the school, may face arrest for allegedly handing the weapon to the suspect.
"The police are looking into whether the second pupil played a role in the crime," said the source.
Fernando called on the police to speed up the investigation. "The waiting is unbearable," he said. "We just want to put this chapter behind us and focus on Joshua’s recovery."
He said his nephew's condition was a painful reality for them where they had to contend with Joshua being bedridden and dependent on others for care.
"It’s heartbreaking as a parent to see your child in this state. No one should go through this."
The family is also frustrated by a lack of communication from authorities regarding the progress of the investigation. "We have so many questions, including how the weapon gets onto school grounds. Where were the teachers during the attack? We need answers," Fernando said.
West Ridge High School is a trade school that also provided hands-on skills training. Before the attack, some teachers had been helping Joshua with job placement, but those plans have been put on hold.
Joshua's family members lamented that his career plans were scrapped.
"I wanted to see my nephew grow up and have a family someday," Fernando said. "Now, his dreams are shattered."
Despite their anguish, Fernando and the rest of the family are determined to stand by Joshua.
Joshua’s doctor, Dr Ramendhra Naidoo, said: “Yes, I can confirm that he is paralysed from his neck downwards. He is quadriplegic (he will not be able to use his four limbs again).”
WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995
DAILY NEWS