Kid had a 9mm pistol and an "unusual" amount of cash in his bag

A SCHOOL in Phoenix , north of Durban, plans to search pupils daily after a 16-year-old boy was arrested for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Drama unfolded at Phoenix Technical School on Tuesday when a teacher discovered that a pupil in his class had a 9mm pistol and an "unusual" amount of cash in his bag.

The teacher called a private security company, Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), to assist while he detained the pupil.

Fearing that the boy might use the weapon to escape, a Rusa helicopter hovered overhead while armed security guards entered the classroom. "The boy told us that he was keeping the firearm for one of his friends. He insisted it was not his weapon," Rusa head Prem Balram said.

He was taken to Phoenix police station where he was charged. A teacher, who did not want to be named, said it was an isolated incident but the school "will have to do something about it".

"We are looking at searching all pupils in the future."