The principal and administration staff of Brookdale Secondary School in Phoenix outside Durban are still traumatised after their harrowing ordeal of being confronted on the school premises, reportedly by a group of brazen intruders, on Tuesday morning.

The school principal, Devaraj Chetty, explained: “I was in my office with a staff member when I noticed somebody closing the office and admin doors.”

He went to investigate and, according to Chetty, two gun-wielding suspects approached him in his office.

“One suspect placed a firearm on my forehead and asked for a firearm to which I responded that we don’t have any weapons,” said Chetty.

The suspect then proceeded to take his Huawei P30, which was on a table, and fled.

Phoenix SAPS communications officer Captain Louise Naidoo confirmed the incident and said: “A security guard at the school later informed Chetty that he was held at gunpoint by two suspects and that a further two intruders were standing at the main gate to the school.”

He added that the guard’s cellphone was also taken. “Items taken from the admin staff include two laptops and two cellphones. The total value of the items stolen is estimated at R33 000. Phoenix trio crimes officers received information of two suspects that were part of the gang that committed the robbery. They proceeded to the location where the suspects were arrested and positively identified by a witness present at the station.”