Nearly three weeks after 17-year-old Abdul Mutallib Hoesein died after being stabbed at an Islamic institution in Springs, east of Johannesburg, his family says it is still waiting for answers about what happened to him and whether anyone will be held accountable.
Hoesein, who was from Cape Town, died following an incident at Jameah Mahmoodiyah in Springs, Gauteng, on 20 August.
It is alleged that he was stabbed during an altercation involving other students at the institution. However, the circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including what led to it and who was involved, have not yet been publicly established.
The family’s spokesperson, Advocate Shameemah Dollie-Salie, told One Nation Media that Abdul’s relatives had been “left in the dark” about the circumstances surrounding his death and were concerned by what they regarded as a lack of progress in the investigation.
“They are concerned that almost three weeks after the incident, no arrests have been made or charges laid,” Dollie-Salie said.
She said he family of Abdul Mutalib Hoosen wanted SAPS to conduct a thorough, impartial and professional investigation into his death.
“The family wants those responsible to be identified, arrested and brought before the courts, so that justice can be served for Abdul Mutalib and his loved ones.
“This is not only about seeking accountability for the loss of one young life. It is also about protecting others. Those responsible must not be allowed to remain at large and potentially cause harm to another person or another family. The family therefore calls on SAPS to ensure that every relevant lead, witness statement and piece of evidence is properly investigated and that the matter is pursued with the urgency and seriousness it deserves,” Dollie-Salie said.
A spokesperson for the Gauteng division of SAPS, Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, said the police were investigating a case of murder following the discovery of a 17-year-old boy who sustained stab wounds on 20 August 2026.
“The victim was declared deceased at the scene. The circumstances surrounding the incident will form part of the investigation. No arrests have been made at this stage, and police investigations are ongoing,” Sibeko said.
However, questions remain over the status of the investigation, including whether statements have been obtained from students and staff who were present, whether any weapon has been recovered, and whether police have identified those directly involved in the confrontation.
Two other students from Cape Town who were reportedly at the institution at the time of the incident were subsequently taken to hospital by their parents after experiencing trauma following Abdul’s death. The precise circumstances surrounding their hospitalisation remain unclear.
Abdul’s body was returned to Cape Town, where his family performed his Janazah.
His death has left the family seeking not only justice, but also a clear account of how a 17-year-old placed in the care of an Islamic educational institution came to lose his life.
For many Muslim families, sending a child away to study at an uloom involves a profound degree of trust. Parents entrust such institutions not only with their children’s Islamic education but, particularly in residential settings, with their supervision, welfare and safety.
That makes transparency especially important when a serious incident involving the loss of life occurs.
Islamic institutions carry an amanah — a trust — towards the young people placed in their care. The death of a student in circumstances involving other students therefore raises legitimate questions about supervision, safeguarding procedures, how conflict between learners is managed, and what mechanisms exist to protect students when disputes escalate.
Those questions should not be used to cast suspicion on Islamic institutions generally. But neither should the religious standing of an institution shield it from scrutiny when a child dies in its care.
His family is now asking for what any bereaved family would expect after the violent death of a child: a proper investigation, a clear explanation of what happened, and accountability wherever the evidence warrants it.
