Grade 7 pupils at a primary school in Manenberg were forced to lay flat on the floor after a bullet ripped through a classroom window on Thursday.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond, says cops were called to Sonderend Primary School after the bullet hit the window.
She says the laaities instinctively hit the floor and no one was injured.
“It is extremely concerning to confirm that the Safe Schools Call Centre received a report from Sonderend Primary that a stray
bullet penetrated a classroom window this morning,” Hammond says.
“The school has reported that a bullet penetrated a Grade 7 classroom window.
“When the gunshots went off, the learners instinctively went to lay on the floor. There is allegedly gang violence in the area.
“Thankfully no child or teacher was hurt. Understandably, the learners are traumatised.
“A social worker and a Safe Schools fieldworker went to the school to render support and counselling.”
Hammond says police have since increased their visibility in the area.
“Arrangements were made with SAPS for increased police visibility in the area.
“Violence in communities such as this has a negative impact on teaching and learning.
“Schools are meant to be places of safety and it is simply unacceptable to put learners and teachers at risk through gang violence outside a school fence.”
She says in many instances the teacher’s own kids attend these schools, which puts their own lives and that of their children at risk.