Two high school learners from Claremont, aged 14 and 15, will spend their weekend in police custody following their arrest yesterday afternoon (14 September) for having a firearm on the school premises.
The duo will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Monday 18 September.
According to police, a local high school, whose name has been withheld to protect other learners, lodged a suspected illegal firearm complaint with Claremont Police Station around 13:30.
Claremont’s Vispol Commander Lt Col Marnus Fourie tells People’s Post that when police arrived at the school, they interviewed a teacher and deputy principal who explained that other learners complained about a 15-year-old with a firearm. However, he passed the weapon to a 14-year-old “friend”.
“The 14-year-old learner handed the teacher a PAK pistol and a live round of 9 mm ammunition,” explained Fourie.
Fourie pointed out that a PAK is a pistol used for self-defence that loads gas ammunition. The barrel is usually blocked, and the weapon was altered to fire a live round.
He says the learners were taken to Claremont Police Station and their parents, with a Probation Officer, were invited to the station.
“Both learners were assessed by the Probation Officer and given the seriousness of the incident, the recommendation was that the learners remain in custody until their court appearance.”
