Two East Rand high schools were hit by criminals who walked away with thousands of rands yesterday.
In an incident that resembled a violent movie scene, two suspects were shot dead by police at Edenvale High School.
Gunmen pounced on the school in the afternoon. Principal Larry Harmer said a man came to the gate and said he was a parent who came to fetch his child and they opened the gate. The car with the gunmen followed.
"We saw them come in on [the surveillance] camera but by the time we had locked down they were in the front office. They jumped through the window with an AK-47 and pistols. They traumatised the front office staff and demanded the safe.
"We let them into the safe and they found no money in the safe," he said.
Harmer said the gunmen tried in vain to break down his office door.
"Our CPF from Edenvale were phenomenal. We sent them a voice note that we were being attacked. Within a minute they had arrived on the scene and the SAPS were with them. I think because of that we were saved," he said.
Brazen robbers target two East Rand high schools
Two East Rand high schools were hit by criminals who walked away with thousands of rands yesterday.
In an incident that resembled a violent movie scene, two suspects were shot dead by police at Edenvale High School.
Gunmen pounced on the school in the afternoon. Principal Larry Harmer said a man came to the gate and said he was a parent who came to fetch his child and they opened the gate. The car with the gunmen followed.
"We saw them come in on [the surveillance] camera but by the time we had locked down they were in the front office. They jumped through the window with an AK-47 and pistols. They traumatised the front office staff and demanded the safe.
"We let them into the safe and they found no money in the safe," he said.
Harmer said the gunmen tried in vain to break down his office door.
"Our CPF from Edenvale were phenomenal. We sent them a voice note that we were being attacked. Within a minute they had arrived on the scene and the SAPS were with them. I think because of that we were saved," he said.
Police spokesperson Capt Kay Makhubele said the criminals were on their way out when they arrived at the school and a gunfight ensued.
"Police returned fire and two suspects were shot and killed. One was injured, two arrested and the other suspects fled in two vehicles."
In a separate incident, a member of the School Governing Body at Norkem Park High School was robbed off R25000 at the school gate.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the SGB member had just withdrawn the money for a school trip.
"No one was harmed."
Education MEC Panyaza Lusufi said schools were sitting ducks for criminals.
"What kind of society are we turning into where we can even risk the lives of our children?" he asked.