The Gauteng Education Department has confirmed that an 11-year-old grade five learner has been kidnapped from the E.P. Baumann Primary School in Mayfair, Johannesburg.
Morning members we just had a kidnapping now outside E.P Baumann primary school 1 of the school kids got kidnapped.
Mayfair. @rtcsa1
JS62CSGP
TOYOTA YARIS SILVER
As received— RTC South Africa (@rtcsa1) November 17, 2021
According to the department, the learner was allegedly kidnapped while waiting in line to be sanitised outside the school this morning.
Spokesperson Steve Mabona says police are investigating the incident.
“Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi is deeply concerned about an alleged kidnapping of a Grade 5 girl learner which occurred this morning. It is alleged that an 11-year-old Grade 5 girl learner at E.P. Baumann Primary School in Mayfair, Johannesburg – was kidnapped at gunpoint by three males in a new shaped Silver/White Toyota Yaris. Police are investigating circumstances surrounding this matter.”
Eyewitness
An eyewitness says she saw a child screaming in fear while being kidnapped from outside the school.
The eyewitness who lives across the school says she saw a man with a gun forcefully take the child.
“It was around 7 or half past 7 and I heard screaming while I came to throw some paper away in the dustbin. I saw a child screaming and I saw a big man with a gun and all the cars were just standing still, then they just took the child and took off, says the eyewitness.
We condemn the actions of the criminal elements who prey on young learners and our prayers are with the family and friends of the young learner. Our Psycho-Social Unit has been deployed to the school to provide assistance to learners and staff at the school…
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) November 17, 2021
