The mayhem, which left two mothers and a father slightly injured, broke out as parents and children arrived at Culembeeck Primary School in Witpoortjie, west of Johannesburg.

Information given to The Times revealed that two mothers who had arrived with their young daughters were arguing with another parent over the same parking spot.

A parent, who asked not to be named, said as the argument raged on, one of the women ran to fetch a relative for help.

"When the man arrived, the argument escalated . it was crazy . people were screaming and shouting, children were crying," she said.

"The gunshots came from nowhere . the person just pulled out a gun and started going wild . people were trying to hide, some parents were lying on top of their children . it was as though the world was ending."

She said the two mothers, who had arrived at the school together, were shot in the feet while a bullet grazed the head of the man they had approached for help.

The injured were taken to various local hospitals for treatment. Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed the shooting.

"The motive appears to have been a fight over a parking spot," she said.

The suspect, she said, "will appear in court soon" on a charge of attempted murder.

Officials at the school were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.