On the morning of Friday, 16 February 2024, a 13-year-old pupil at Primrose Hill Primary was arrested following the shooting of the school’s principal.
What we know about the Primrose Hill Primary shooting
The incident, which has shocked the local community in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, culminated in the 51-year-old principal being hospitalised for treatment.
While the exact circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, law enforcement officials have launched an investigation into how the student obtained the firearm, which has since been confiscated.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, early indications suggest the firearm belongs to the grade 6 student’s parents.
Details available at this time indicate that the altercation reportedly began when the principal instructed students in the foyer to prepare for their studies, an order that bizarrely escalated to a fiery exchange with the accused student.
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The situation escalated later near the staff room, culminating in the shooting.
When the teen attempted to make a run for it, he was taken down by Mamba Security personnel before he could discard the firearm, which was still piping hot in his pocket.
Fortunately. the principal is currently recovering, and the student is due to appear in the Germiston magistrate’s court soon.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed deep devastation over the incident and announced that disciplinary actions would be taken against the learner.
“We will take disciplinary action against the learner while also monitoring the principal’s condition to ensure he returns to full health,” the MEC said.
The education department plans to offer psychosocial support and counselling to those affected at the school starting Monday, highlighting the community’s efforts to heal and address the underlying issues of this tragic event.