Bafana Tshabalala, who transports some of the learners from Primrose Primary School in Germiston, says he assisted the security company in finding the 13-year-old boy who is accused of shooting his principal on Friday. Tshabalala said he was walking back to where they park their scholar transport when he was told by the private security about what had transpired.

Tshabalala said what happened on Friday was like a movie as he would hear of such stories but he never thought that it would happen to people he knew. "Unfortunately, we were not around when the incident took place, we had gone to the shops to buy something. When we came back, we found private security cars blocking the corner after the boy jumped the fence following the shooting. We were shocked to learn about the shooting," he said. He added that he offered to help the security to look for the boy because he was familiar with the area. "We couldn't just sit and accept that he escaped. That's when we got into the security car and started our search. We drove around and looked around an informal settlement but we then got information that he was spotted around Elandsfontein." Tshabalala said they spotted the boy near a petrol station. "He saw us approaching and we tried to stop him, but he started running. We got out of the cars and gave chase on foot. He could see that we were getting closer and then he pointed the firearm at us. I alerted the security of this and he fired a warning shot and that's when he dropped the gun on the floor. We were able to bring him back to the school and alerted the police," he said.

Tshabalala said Primrose Primary is a good school but the problem are the learners who lack discipline. "The principal tries to discipline them but I think the problem starts at home. Last year I even had to threaten some learners who were harassing their teachers. The principal had chased them out of the school, but they didn't want to leave and caused havoc. I was forced to intervene and take them out of the school." He added that they are aware of what happens inside the school because they are outside the premises waiting to transport the kids daily. "We see them bunk school and hide behind those big trees across the sports field and tell them to go to class. Sometimes you see a child walking to school around 11am, where are they coming from at that time? These kids are problematic, but Friday's incident is worse."

The father of the 13-year-old boy was released on R1 000 police bail at Bedfordview Police Station on Friday after he was arrested and charged with negligence in handling of a firearm. He appeared at the Edenvale Magistrates Court yesterday while his son, the accused appeared at the Germiston Magistrates Court in camera accompanied by his mother. The father (50) who cannot be named to protect the identity of his child claimed in court that his firearm was lost. The teenager's matter has been postponed to March for further investigation. During the visit to the school, MEC for Education Matome Chiloane said they discovered that the accused had planned to murder the principal, his deputy as well as his class teacher. Chiloane said this information was discovered via a WhatsApp group created by peers at the school. The MEC said the boy needs to go for rehabilitation.