An acting principal at a local high school in Johannesburg was shot several times in his office on school premises on Tuesday.
The Gauteng Education Department confirmed the incident and said the acting principal at Northview High School was shot six times.
Provincial Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed shock at the incident and said the unidentified suspects entered the school premises under false pretences.
“According to information at our disposal, two unidentified armed men entered the school premises on Tuesday morning under the guise of seeing the acting principal to give him a quotation for tree felling. The men then reportedly entered the acting principal’s office and suddenly opened fire at him, hitting him six times before fleeing the scene. The acting principal was rushed to a medical facility, where he is currently in ICU,” Chiloane said.
A police investigation into the shooting incident is under way.
The department said its psycho-social support unit will be dispatched to the school on Wednesday to provide the necessary trauma counselling for learners and educators who may be affected by this incident.
“As the Department, we are deeply shocked by this brazen act of violence and lawlessness, which not only targeted a school leader but undermined the sanctity of our educational institution. We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the acting principal, his family, and the school community during this difficult time, and we wish him a speedy recovery,” Chiloane said.
In a separate incident, a 50-year-old woman, an isiXhosa National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination paper marker at the Alberton marking centre died on Tuesday.
The woman allegedly tripped and hit her head against a pole wile leaving the centre. She was immediately rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries later in the evening while receiving medical attention.
“Our psycho-social support unit has arranged to be on-site at the Alberton Marking Centre today to provide emotional support to her colleagues and other markers affected by this incident. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased marker. Her commitment to the education sector was invaluable, and her untimely passing is a profound loss to all of us,” Chiloane said.