Bloemfontein – A 17-year-old boy stabbed his stepfather to death with a kitchen knife on Sunday night, apparently in self-defence.

Netwerk24 reported on Tuesday that the boy and his stepfather were arguing when the stepfather apparently threatened to shoot him.

He then stabbed the 59-year-old man five times.

The cause of the argument is unknown, but no gun was found in the home, according to Free State police.

The boy’s mother was at their Fichardt Park, Bloemfontein, home at the time of the incident, and cradled her dying husband, Netwerk24 reported.

A neighbour said the teenager was in a state after the stabbing, and hovered over his stepfather, repeatedly urging him not to die.

OFM reported that the man died at the scene and the boy was arrested for murder. He will appear in court on Tuesday.