Children traumatised after dad 'mistakenly' shoots son at school

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said learners are traumatised after a father allegedly shot his son‚ fatally wounding him‚ outside a school in Ennerdale‚ Johannesburg.

“What happened is shocking and highly disturbing. That’s why I had to go to the school and comfort the learners and his teachers. The learner was a deputy chairperson of the RCL (Representative Council of Learners) and they say he was a bright learner‚” Lesufi told TimesLIVE on Wednesday.

Police said the 50-year-old father had taken his 14-year-old son to a secondary school on Tuesday to attend evening classes.

“The father dropped the boy and he locked his vehicle and waited inside the vehicle. He then fell asleep. The boy came back and knocked on the passenger window of his father's vehicle.

“The father‚ who was asleep in the car with his firearm on him‚ got scared by the knocking; he pulled out his firearm and shot in the direction of the person who was knocking. He only realised it was his son after he had fired the shot‚” said Captain Mpande Khoza.

The teenager died on his way to hospital.

Counselling support is being provided to learners at the school.

“The boy was popular at the school so many of his friends are traumatised‚ especially those who were at the school last night. As we speak our councillors are already on site‚” said Lesufi.

On its Facebook page‚ the school expressed its condolences.

“The principal‚ staff‚ auxiliary workers and all learners has been touched by this remarkable young man and we express our sincere condolences to all his family and friends. Rest well young man...

“As an angel you graced us with your time here with us‚ now You have a great deal of work to do with our Heavenly Father.”

The father will appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court to face an initial charge of murder.