Concerns over the safety of learners and teachers are growing following a series of violent incidents reported at schools across South Africa.
The latest incident occurred at Iphutheng Primary School in Alexandra, Johannesburg, where learners and staff were left traumatised after two armed men allegedly entered the school on Tuesday.
The suspects are believed to have entered the premises during an alleged robbery. Preliminary reports indicate that several warning shots were fired, sparking panic among learners and educators.
Learners and staff reportedly fled from the school to seek safety as the incident unfolded.
Several laptops were allegedly stolen during the robbery.
The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed the incident, while police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged robbery and shooting.
The incident has renewed concerns about security at schools, particularly following a number of recent violent incidents involving learners and staff.
It also comes days after Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile joined police in search-and-seizure operations at several schools as part of a province-wide school safety campaign.
During those operations, authorities confiscated several items, including knives, scissors, vapes, a fork and suspected drugs.
Education and law enforcement authorities have continued to call for stronger security measures at schools to ensure that learning environments remain safe for both learners and educators.
The investigation into the Iphutheng Primary School incident is ongoing, and no arrests have been confirmed at this stage.