2008 Nic Diederichs Technical High School slashing

Slashing incident in Krugersdorp, South Africa August 2021 July 2014 South Africa center Krugersdorp 26 6 S 27 46 E Krugersdorp, South Africa Pupils and employees at Nic Diederichs Technical High School 2008 08 17 y 7:20 a.m. Want to see something cool? News24 18 August 2008 http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2378386,00.html 17 September 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080917224158/http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2378386,00.html 17 September 2008 SAST Mass slashing 1 3 Morné Harmse 60-cm katana Desire for infamy Belief in Satanism Revenge for bullying On 17 August 2008, 18-year-old student Morné Harmse attacked people at the Nic Diederichs Technical High School in Krugersdorp, South Africa, with a katana, resulting in the death of a 16-year-old student and injuries to two campus gardeners and another student. Harmse 'liked to sharpen sword' News24 27 August 2008 http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2383751,00.html 16 September 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080913005201/http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2383751,00.html 13 September 2008 Harmse later pleaded guilty to a charge of murder and three charges of attempted murder, and was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment. Harmse was frequently bulliedPistorius Micki Threat Assessment: Revisiting The Morne Harmse Katana Sword School Murder https://mickipistorius.co.za/katana-sword-school-murder/ Dr. Micki Pistorius 2025-05-30 2026-06-07 and was reported to have "followed" the practice of Satanism, Satanism blamed in wake of Krugersdorp sword slaying Cape Argus 21 August 2008 http://www.capeargus.co.za/?fArticleId=4570367 16 September 2008 December 2019 Learner blames Satan for murderous rampage SABC News 18 August 2008 http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,175609,00.html 4 May 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20080826021605/http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/education/0,2172,175374,00.html 26 August 2008 'The devil didn't make him do it' The Times 19 August 2008 http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=824987 16 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080822163952/http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=824987 22 August 2008 Rumours of Satanism playing a part in high-profile murders should not be taken seriously, according to the head of the police's investigative psychology unit. Senior Superintendent Gerard Labuschagne was responding to claims that a matric pupil stabbed a fellow pupil yesterday because 'Satan told him to kill the children'. and taking inspiration to the Columbine High School massacre. with the main target of achieving infamy, which accord his words he wanted "to make people take notice had been brewing for over a year".https://iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/2022-10-16-book-extract-samurai-sword-murder--the-morn-harmse-story/ Book Extract: ‘Samurai Sword Murder – The Morné Harmse story’ IOL 2026-03-04https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/53a93ae8-76fe-4090-a877-315f1c190954/content The Krugersdorp samurai sword killing: a media analysis University of the Free State 2026-03-04 Harmse had acquired a mask that resembled one of a member of the American heavy metal band Slipknot, donned a dress similar to the band's singer, Corey Taylor Now what, sir? IOL 18 August 2008 http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/now-what-sir-1.412851 4 May 2013 on the morning of the attack, and had been listening to the band for months prior to the attack. Attack At about 7:00 a.m. (SAST), Harmse arrived at school in a white t-shirt and jeans, wearing a brown mask and with black paint on his face. The mask was reported to be an imitation of the one Slipknot lead vocalist Corey Taylor wears, which Harmse had referred to as the "maggot mask" but the media claimed that it resembled Joey Jordison's own mask and not Taylor's. Two other masks were found in Harmse's bag: a clown mask from a Hollywood costume store similar to Shawn Crahan's and a handmade papier-mâché mask with drilled holes and painted with tribal marks similar to Chris Fehn. Three katanas were also found in his bag, including a Sekizo ninja sword and a small katana. Victims1. Jacques Pretorius, pupil, killed by slash to the neck2. Stefan Bouwer, pupil, injured by slash to the head3. Joseph Kodiseng, groundskeeper, critically injured4. Simon Manamela, groundskeeper, critically injured At about 7:20 a.m., during an assembly for a congregation, Harmse took out his 60-cm samurai sword and slashed 16-year-old pupil Jacques Pretorius' neck, killing him immediately. Harmse walked down a passage and slashed 17-year-old Stefan Bouwer on the head and was immediately confronted by two school groundskeepers, Joseph Kodiseng and Simon Manamela, Sword killer wanted to be somebody The Sunday Independent 24 August 2008 http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=828706 18 September 2008 November 2025 InternetArchiveBot who were both slashed and injured. All three were taken to hospital. Harmse's attack was concluded when he sat down on a brick wall and stuck the sword in the ground, which was grabbed by his younger brother, Corné, who was standing nearby. At about 7:45 a.m., Harmse was escorted to the principal's office, and fifteen minutes later was arrested by police without incident. He was temporarily held in the custody of the Krugersdorp Police Station. Conviction On 20 August 2008, Harmse was charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder at the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court. Teen in court after Samurai-style killing IOL 20 August 2008 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&set_id=1&art_id=vn20080820163038819C618761 18 September 2008 He was later sent to the Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital for mental health evaluation. On 25 October, after two consecutive months of mental health evaluation and two postponements of the court date, Harmse was ruled to be mentally fit by Magistrate Joachim Nortje. Sword slaying suspect fit for trial Independent Online 25 October 2008 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&art_id=vn20081025092307686C661582&set_id= 26 October 2008 https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2008-08-28-ghosts-told-me-to-join-satanism/ Ghosts told me to join Satanism Sowetan 3 March 2026 The case was transferred to the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg for trial before Judge Gerhardus Hattingh. On 14 April 2009, Harmse pleaded guilty to all four charges,'Sword killer' pleads guilty 14 April 2009 News24 Sapa http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Sword-killer-pleads-guilty-20090414 21 July 2011 and on 10 October he was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment.Sword killer gets 20 years 10 October 2009 News24 Sapa http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Sword-killer-gets-20-years-20090910 21 July 2011 On 3 March 2022, Harmse was given parole.Pijoos Iavan 'Samurai killer’ out on parole for 2008 murder of fellow pupil at Krugersdorp school https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/samurai-killer-out-on-parole-for-2008-murder-of-fellow-pupil-at-krugersdorp-school-20220314 2025-01-09 News24 en-US Reactions Blame Satanism and media In the aftermath of the attacks, the blame was put on Satanism, which Harmse took an interest in. Harmse claimed that Satan had told him to do it and that he followed the practice of Satanism. When police executed a search in Harmse's room, they found "disturbing elements of Satanism" that included ouija boards and "spell books." Heavy metal act Slipknot was also blamed for the attacks, as Harmse had obtained masks resembling those of the band members and was reportedly listening to the band months before. He had claimed that upon listening to Slipknot, he had lost control of his body and had a mind of his own. Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor later issued a response to Harmse's actions: How deadly is our music ... really? Daily Dispatch 25 August 2008 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&set_id=1&art_id=vn20080820163038819C618761 18 September 2008 May 2026 Obviously, I'm disturbed by the fact that people were hurt and someone died. As far as my responsibility for that goes, it stops there, because I know our message is actually very positive. I'm not encouraging anybody to kill anyone. I encourage our fans to express themselves, to stick together and to help each other. Apology The parents of Morné Harmse, Machiel and Liza Harmse, issued a formal apology to the Pretorius family. 'Satanism blamed in teen's killing' Calgary Herald 25 August 2008 http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=1b06e0de-7b39-4404-9158-63dc7edc651d 18 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20121105034529/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=1b06e0de-7b39-4404-9158-63dc7edc651d 5 November 2012 See also Columbine effect 2026 Ntabankulu Primary School shooting Satanic panic (South Africa) References External links The Times: Morné Harmse in Court (Flash audio clip) Category:August 2008 crimes in Africa Category:Child murder in South Africa Category:Columbine High School massacre copycat crimes Category:Deaths by edged and bladed weapons Category:Crimes involving Satanism or the occult Category:2008 murders in South Africa Category:August 2008 in South Africa Category:Sword attacks Category:School stabbings in Africa