One of the two schoolboys who was shot on Tuesday afternoon, allegedly by a fellow pupil, underwent an operation this morning, while the other boy has been discharged from hospital.
The younger of the two boys, age 13, was discharged from hospital and the other, age 15, went into theatre for a second time at Groote Schuur Hospital this morning, said spokesman Alaric Jacobs. The boy, a grade 10 pupil at Oaklands High School in Lansdowne, is in a stable condition.
In January, Oaklands High School was on the department’s “most improved list” for “highest increase in access to bachelors degree” study.
The shooting took place yesterday afternoon, when a 14-year-old high school pupil “picked up” a 9mm pistol and allegedly used it to shoot two fellow pupils as they were leaving school.
The Grade 8 pupil was arrested for attempted murder and was to appear in court today.
Meanwhile, Bronagh Casey, spokewoman for Education MEC Donald Grant, thanked Oaklands principal, staff and the district officials “for dealing with the aftermath of this incident so effectively”.
Casey said the department had released guidelines to schools for random search and seizures which could be carried out by principals or their delegates.
“The school principal (at Oaklands) was not aware that one of the learners had in his possession a gun”.
Casey said that in circumstances where a principal is informed that a child has any dangerous object, alcoholic liquor or illegal drug, he or she can conduct a search and seizure.
“In January 2011, the new Western Cape Provincial School Education Act was passed which provided clearly defined powers to conduct search and seizure operations at schools should they reasonably suspect any learners carrying any dangerous weapons,” she said.
Cape Argus