TEACHERS and pupils at Primrose Primary School are still traumatised after the principal was shot by a pupil on 16 February.
On Friday, 23 February, DA member of parliament, Michelle Clark, accompanied by Ward councillors Kade Guerreiro and Wendy Morgan, visited the school in Germiston, Ekurhuleni.
They said they were worried about safety at the school.
Clark said teachers and pupils were extremely shaken by what had happened.
“If you look behind me, you'll see a sign that says no guns allowed within the school. That has not been taken cognisance of. There's absolutely no security at the school.
“I arrived on Friday, 23 February, and no one asked me for identification. While I was there, I signed on a piece of paper they let me in, and that's a worrying factor when you pre-grade pupils, some of whom are between the ages of six and 13."
The DA member of parliament is worried about the safety of teachers and pupils at Primrose Primary School in Germiston, https://t.co/Tw71msc4Cj by Happy Mnguni.@dailysun pic.twitter.com/yzDlRbt0Bz
— happy mnguni (@happy_mnguni) February 26, 2024
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Clark said the government needs to start taking notice of such incidents and crime within schools.
“Parents must also be responsible. The law states that when you have a licensed gun it must be locked away in a safe.
“I'll be writing questions to Minister of Police, Bheki Cele to find out what the government was doing in terms of school safety programmes,” Clark said.
Kade said he was concerned about security at the school.
“We visited the school on 19 February. Nothing has changed. I’m able to walk in freely without being checked if I have a weapon, or not.
“I was hoping to see tight security and police visibility to ensure the school was safe,” said Kade.
The principal is still recovering from the gunshot wound in hospital.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said he was devastated by the shooting.
The incident happened on 16 February when the principal saw pupils sitting in the foyer and instructed [them] to take out their workbooks to study.
“The grade 6 pupil allegedly mumbled something in response, but the principal ignored him. He saw him later near the staff room, which is when he was shot.
"The principal was rushed to hospital for medical attention and is recovering," Chiloane said.
He said his department would take disciplinary action against the pupil while hey monitor the principal’s condition.
Chiloane said they interviewed the pupil's friends, who then confirmed the shooting had been planned for a while.
"They had a WhatsApp group where they were communicating and planning this gruesome act, and it's alleged the pupil had taken bullets to the school not so long ago."
The pupil (13) is facing charges of attempted murder.
He was arrested and has since been released into the custody of his parents.
The father (50) appeared in court for the first time on Friday, 23 February, and the case was postponed to 19 March for further investigation.
The father is out on R1 000 bail. He and his son will appear in the same court but in different courtrooms.
He is facing a charge of negligence in the handling of a firearm.
