The shooting took place on Wednesday, the first day of the 2022 academic year. The deceased pupils were in Grade 10 at Lesiba Secondary School in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg. It is alleged that the two pupils had quarrelled during school hours. Their quarrel reportedly led to one of the pupils shooting the other in the head outside the school premises. The shooter allegedly then turned the gun on himself.

Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said psycho-social unit officials had been sent to counsel those affected by the fatal incident. "It is tragic to lose pupils at the hands of violence as the academic year begins. We wish to send our sincere condolences to the families of those pupils. We also urge our pupils to always refrain from any form of violent behaviour," MEC Panyaza Lesufi said.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello said they were investigating a murder. Sello said circumstances that led to the shooting were unknown at this stage. Meanwhile, a male general assistant from Kwa-Phalo Primary School in Soweto, was shot and killed on Thursday morning. The 49-year-old was shot at his workplace and declared dead on the scene. "Our psycho-social unit has been dispatched to provide necessary trauma support and counselling to those affected by this incident," Lesufi said.