Enrico Martin, a pupil at Spes Bona High, was shot in the head after entering the school premises.
|||Cape Town - A teenage boy was shot at an Athlone high school on Wednesday morning, Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant said.
There are conflicting reports on the details surrounding the shooting.
Grant said a 17-year-old pupil was shot just after 8am while entering the Spes Bona High School premises.
“Enrico Martin is currently in a critical condition at Groote Schuur Hospital,” he said in a statement.
He was allegedly shot by a person not enrolled at the school, but dressed in a school uniform.
Grant said the school called an ambulance and paramedics were able to revive Martin before taking him to hospital.
The department had arranged for trauma counselling at the school for pupils and teachers.
“We pray for his recovery and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this very tough and emotional time,” Grant said.
However, Western Cape police said the pupil was 18 years old and was approached by three males dressed in school tracksuit tops - two of whom were allegedly armed.
“One of them fired shots at the victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head,” Captain FC van Wyk said.
He said an attempted murder case was opened and no arrest had been made.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated and the motive is yet to be established, and therefore it is not possible to speculate on gang violence at this stage.” - Sapa