A grade 10 pupil was shot and killed, allegedly by a police officer, in his classroom at a Mpumalanga high school, police said on Monday.
Superintendent Abie Khoabane said the 17-year-old youth was killed by a bullet that ricocheted when a policeman shot at a suspected thief in a classroom at the Manukose High School in Merry People Stream village near Thulamahashe on Friday.
Khoabane said police were investigating the theft of a firearm. The school principal gave police officers permission to arrest the alleged culprits. One of the three accused led the police to his two accomplices in the classroom.
One youth handed himself over, but the second jumped out of the window.
”A policeman drew a firearm and fired a shot at the suspect. The bullet ricocheted and hit a pupil in the class. We are investigating a case of murder.”
An internal investigation was under way against the policeman who fired the shot. Once completed, the provincial commissioner would decide the officer’s fate.
”We offer our sincere condolences to the family,” said Khoabane.
All three youths were arrested on a charge of firearm theft. – Sapa