/ 25 April 2006

Parktown Boys’ High pupils held at gunpoint

Three gunmen robbed pupils at Johannesburg’s Parktown Boys’ High of 12 cellphones, five watches and cash, police said on Tuesday.

The three, one of them armed with a handgun, stormed into the Grade 11 class at 1.45pm on Monday, ordered the pupils and their teacher to lie down and took their possessions, Inspector Mosima Manganye said.

She said Hillbrow police were investigating a case of armed robbery. More details on the incident would be available later, Manganye said.

Meanwhile, 702 Talk Radio reported that several pupils at the school would be debriefed on Tuesday.

The men climbed over the perimeter fence shortly before school ended, entered the classroom and robbed them and their teacher of money and jewellery.

The station quoted headmaster Tom Clarke as saying the boys were traumatised and would be offered individual counselling. Clarke said the robbery took place despite a recent increase in security measures.

The school had spent R370 000 on security but more would be done to prevent such incidents, he said. — Sapa