LIMPOPO — Police are actively investigating charges of assault on police officers and attempted murder following a volatile high school incident in the Bolobedu policing area. The confrontation, which occurred at an educational institution in Nakampe Village, left a 16-year-old learner with a gunshot wound to the leg and prompted an immediate probe by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Authorities were initially dispatched to the school on Tuesday, 01 September 2026, to address reports of a learner making threats on campus. Upon arrival, officers were briefed by a teacher regarding the situation and were requested to assist in escorting a 21-year-old student to his parents after he completed an examination.
According to the police account, the situation escalated when the 21-year-old learner allegedly resisted the officers’ instructions and pushed one of the responding members. As a second officer intervened to assist his colleague, a large group of students reportedly emerged from their classrooms and began hurling stones and plastic bottles at the police team.
As the environment became increasingly volatile, one of the officers allegedly drew his service firearm and discharged a single warning shot into the ground in an effort to disperse the aggressive crowd. This action allowed the police members to safely exit the school premises.
Shortly after the officers’ departure, it was reported that a 16-year-old learner had sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg during the chaos. The student was first treated at a local clinic before being referred to a hospital for further medical care.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has been formally notified and is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the minor’s injury. Consequently, two separate cases have been opened: assault on a police officer and attempted murder. The specifics surrounding the attempted murder charge remain a central focus of the ongoing IPID probe.
Addressing the incident, the Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers, called for calm and respect for law enforcement personnel.
“Police officers have a duty and responsibility to respond to any complaints and to maintain safety within the communities, including schools,” Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers stated. “Any concerns regarding police conduct must be reported through the appropriate channels and should never result in violence. At the same time, circumstances surrounding this incident must be thoroughly investigated.”
Investigations into the matter remain active and ongoing.
