Teen pupil faces charges after school principal is shot

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested after allegedly shooting the principal of Primrose Hill Primary School in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, yesterday morning.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the 51-year-old principal was taken to a local hospital.

The boy is a Grade 6 pupil at the school.

The Gauteng education department said the shooting happened after the principal saw pupils sitting in the foyer and told them to take out their workbooks to study.

“The Grade 6 pupil allegedly mumbled something in response, but the principal ignored him. He saw the pupil again later near the staff room, which is when he was shot by him,” said Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane.

The circumstances that led to the shooting are unknown at this stage. Police have launched an investigation. It is alleged the firearm belongs to the parent of the pupil. Police have seized the firearm.

“We are taken aback by the nature of this incident and the manner in which it occurred.

“We will be invoking disciplinary action against the pupil, while also monitoring the principal’s condition.

“Our plea is for parents to not refrain from instilling discipline in their children,” said Chiloane.

The teenager is expected to appear before the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on a charge of attempted murder.

Last year, the Gauteng department of education deployed patrollers to several schools in Dobsonville following reports of an unknown group terrorising schools in the area.

This followed a news report in August detailing an incident at George Khosa Secondary School, where a group of armed males forcefully entered the school through the front gates and proceeded to a few classrooms, creating chaos.

“Our psychosocial support team was dispatched to the school to provide support. Pupils and staff have been addressed, accordingly,” said department spokesperson Steve Mabona at the time.

“The department continues to strongly condemn any acts of misconduct which undermine our learning institutions. We urge all stakeholders not to disrupt schooling as lost contact time is not easily recovered.”