A 13-year-old boy in South Africa, who allegedly shot and injured his school principal, could face trial as an adult, according to the prosecuting authority.
The boy, whose identity has not been disclosed, has been charged with attempted murder. The 51-year-old principal is currently in intensive care, recovering from the incident that took place at a primary school in Germiston, near Johannesburg.
The shooting has sparked outrage in South Africa, where there is a growing concern about violence in schools. The boy reportedly used his father’s gun in the shooting, and his father has also been arrested on suspicion of negligence related to a firearm.
During a visit to the school, the Gauteng province’s Education Minister revealed that the boy had allegedly created a “hitlist” targeting three teachers. The minister stated that the incident had been planned for some time and that the boy had taken bullets to the school on a previous occasion.
Under South Africa’s Child Justice Act, a 12- or 13-year-old is presumed not to have “criminal capacity” unless proven otherwise by the state. Following a request from the National Prosecuting Authority, a magistrate has ordered an assessment of the boy’s cognitive, moral, emotional, psychological, and social development to determine if he can be tried as an adult.
The case has raised concerns about gun violence and its impact on children in South Africa. The country’s education officials have pledged to increase security measures in schools, including monitoring high-risk schools via CCTV cameras.
Regardless of the legal outcome, the boy will undergo rehabilitation before being reintegrated into the education system, according to officials.
13-Year-Old South African Boy Faces Adult Trial for Shooting Principal
In South Africa, a 13-year-old boy who allegedly shot and injured his school principal could be tried as an adult, the prosecuting authority has stated. The incident, which occurred at a primary school in Germiston, has shocked many in the country, where school violence is a growing concern.
The boy, whose identity remains undisclosed, has been charged with attempted murder. His father, the owner of the gun used in the shooting, has also been arrested on suspicion of negligence related to a firearm.
According to reports, the boy had allegedly compiled a “hitlist” targeting three teachers. The incident has raised questions about gun control and safety in schools across South Africa.
Under the country’s Child Justice Act, a 12- or 13-year-old is presumed not to have “criminal capacity” unless proven otherwise. A magistrate has ordered an assessment of the boy’s mental and emotional state to determine if he can be tried as an adult.
Education officials have vowed to enhance security measures in schools, including monitoring high-risk institutions via CCTV cameras. Despite the legal outcome, the boy will undergo rehabilitation before returning to the education system.