Stray Bullet Injures Learner

A grade 8 learner this morning had to be rushed to hospital after a stray bullet injured him while he was attending a lesson at Lower Crossroads Secondary School in Ngqwangi Drive, Phillippi East.

Staff at Lower Crossroads Secondary School rushed Mgongiseni Mayongo, 17, to the Mitchell's Plain Day Hospital for treatment. The hospital will make a decision later when to remove the bullet by surgery.

A teacher is currently with him in the hospital. Officials of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) have arranged for his family to be with him as well.

Mgongiseni was in an English lesson about 08.45, when the bullet entered through a classroom window, wounding him in his right arm below the elbow. Police do not know the origin of the bullet at this stage.

His teacher, Ms Nomfazi Silwana, rushed him immediately to the office of the Acting Principal, Ms Nyalleng Kwili, who arranged for a member of staff to take Mgongiseni to hospital.

The school contacted Mgongiseni's mother and the Metropole South Education Management and Development Centre (EMDC) of the WCED. Three EMDC officials went to the school immediately on learning of the incident. They included the Circuit Manager and the EMDC's Safe Schools Coordinator.

The Safe Schools Coordinator is providing trauma counseling for all those affected by the shooting. The department awaits further information from the police.

For Enquiries:

Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Cell: 082 550 3938
Fax: 021 425 5689
Email: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za

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