VANDERBIJLPARK – Parents are reeling in fear after a man was caught firing shots
near schools in Vanderbijlpark’s CBD on Friday afternoon, August 15.
This comes after a terrifying shooting incident unfolded at the corner of Livingstone Boulevard and FW Beyers Street, a stone’s throw from several schools.
According to witnesses, chaos erupted when the suspect allegedly pulled out a pellet gun and fired in the direction of pupils, leaving children screaming and running for cover.
A quick-thinking security officer on patrol swooped in.
He managed to apprehend the armed suspect on the spot before handing him over to the police.
Vanderbijlpark police spokesperson Sergeant Sabelo Sigcu confirmed the drama, saying: “The suspect was using a pellet gun to scare the scholars. He was successfully detained and faces charges of discharging a firearm in public.”
Sigcu warned that pellet and toy guns pose a huge danger, as people often mistake them for real firearms.
“People should refrain from using these guns to scare or rob community members,” he cautioned.
The Gauteng Department of Education, while relieved the incident did not take place inside school grounds, urged parents not to panic.
Spokesperson Steve Mabona stressed that the shooting happened off school premises, after hours.
“We reassure parents that children remain safe in the majority of our schools,” he said.
“We cannot eliminate crime alone, but together as a community, we can contain these incidents and urge community members to report any criminality to the relevant authorities. We take comfort in the fact that most schools in Gauteng are stable with minimal disruption and incidents of violence, substance abuse, and bullying. We will continue to redouble our efforts to deal with school safety matters in schools,” he said.