Police have launched a murder investigation after a school principal and an administrator were shot dead in the corridor of their Gauteng school on Tuesday afternoon.
The Gauteng Department of Education said the attack took place shortly after 5 p.m., while staff were preparing for an upcoming meeting on the premises. Colleagues working in a nearby office reported hearing multiple gunshots and immediately took cover.
When it was safe to emerge, they found the 58-year-old principal and a 55-year-old administrator lying in the corridor with gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical teams were called to the scene but, despite their efforts, both victims were declared dead on site.
Police have since opened a murder docket, but no arrests had been made as of Wednesday. Investigators are still working to establish the motive for the attack and identify the perpetrators.
In the wake of the killings, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Education MEC Matome Chiloane visited the school on Tuesday night. They met with school management, district officials and the bereaved families, and received a briefing on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Department of Education confirmed that counselling teams and wellness personnel have been deployed to the school to offer psychological support to teachers, non-teaching staff and learners traumatised by the shooting.
Chiloane strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a “shocking act of violence inside a space meant to be safe for children and educators.” He called on the police to prioritise the case and move quickly to bring those responsible to justice.
The department further appealed to members of the public who may have information about the shooting to come forward and assist law enforcement.
The murders have intensified concerns over school safety in the province, with education officials and community members reiterating calls for stronger security measures in and around learning environments to protect both staff and pupils from violent crime.
