Johannesburg -
A group of 108 schoolchildren and 10 teachers from the Hennopspark Primary School in Pretoria were robbed at gunpoint at a lodge in Hazyview on Thursday, said Mpumalanga police.
Colonel Leonard Hlathi said they had been on a school tour when three men armed with a shotgun and two pistols entered their rooms shortly after midnight.
“They said they did not want to harm them, but just wanted their things,” said Hlathi.
The gunmen made off with 14 cellphones, money, an iPad, laptop and jewellery.
No one was injured in the robbery and no arrests had been made, said Hlathi.
Hennopspark Primary School spokeswoman Anna Alkema said the children involved were grade seven pupils, who were between the ages of 11 and 13 years old.
She said they had arrived in Hazyview on Wednesday and were meant to start their tour only on Thursday. Their trip had been cut short and the children were on their way back home.
School principal Jannie Raath said the school was grateful that no one had been harmed.
“We spoke to them and everyone is a little traumatised but they are OK. We have also spoken to the parents,” said Raath. - Sapa