A 15-year-old learner is set to appear in court after he was found with a firearm at a North West school. The police said preliminary investigations revealed that the firearm was reported stolen at Mabopane, in Gauteng, earlier this year.
THE POLICE in Klipgat in the North West province arrested a 15-year-old learner after he was found in possession of a firearm and six rounds of ammunition at school.
According to information, the police were dispatched to the school when they received a call from the principal.
On arrival, the school principal showed the police a firearm and the ammunition as well as the learner who was allegedly found in possession of the items.
The learner was arrested after he allegedly told police that the firearm belongs to his brother who has gone missing.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the firearm was reported stolen at Mabopane, Gauteng province, on July 11, 2024. The 15-year-old minor was assessed by social workers on Thursday, August 15, 2024, and was placed under the care of his parents,” said North West provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda Funani.
She added that the police are looking for the learner’s brother.
“The minor is expected to appear before the Ga-Rankuwa Children’s Court on Wednesday, August 21,” said Funani.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of police in Bojanala platinum sub-district, Major-General Modisagaarekwe Mosimanegape, has urged parents and firearm owners to safeguard their weapons and not to leave firearms unattended “as that poses a danger to the community”.
In February, a 13-year-old teenager was arrested after he allegedly shot his principal at a school in Primrose, Gauteng.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said at the time that the 51-year-old principal was rushed to a local hospital.
“Circumstances that led to the shooting are unknown at this stage, as police have launched an investigation to also establish the origin of the firearm that was seized by the police,” said Nevhuhulwi.
“The teenager is expected to appear before Germiston Magistrate’s Court soon on a charge of attempted murder.”
