Grade 6 student shot principal because he did not want to study – Gauteng education department reveals gory details

The Gauteng Department of Education has expressed its shock and dismay after a Grade 6 pupil allegedly shot and wounded the principal of Primrose Hill Primary School.

The incident occurred on Friday morning, and the 51-year-old principal has since been taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane released a statement in response to the shooting, expressing his devastation and pledging support to the school.

He stated, “We are taken aback by the nature of this incident and the manner in which it occurred, and we discourage such acts of misconduct at our schools.”

He added that the department will provide counselling and trauma support to both the teachers and learners affected by the incident.

The department has also confirmed that necessary disciplinary action will be taken against the learner responsible for the shooting.

MEC Chiloane urged parents to play an active role in instilling discipline in their children, saying, “Our plea is for parents to not refrain from instilling discipline in their children.”

According to the department, the shooting occurred after the principal instructed learners to take out their workbooks to study.

The Grade 6 learner allegedly mumbled something in response, which the principal ignored.

Later, the principal encountered the learner near the staff room, at which point he was shot with a firearm.

The teenager responsible for the shooting has been arrested and is expected to appear before the Germiston Magistrate’s Court soon on a charge of attempted murder, according to Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.