BELLVILLE – The South African Police Service (SAPS) is offering a substantial R50 000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an armed man who entered a Bellville school on Friday, 18 June, specifically seeking the child of a police officer.
The incident, which has raised serious concerns about the safety of police officers’ families, occurred at approximately 15:00 at a local learning institution in Bellville, where the unidentified suspect approached an aftercare teacher with inquiries about a specific learner.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, the armed man gained entrance to the school premises with what authorities describe as “malicious intent.” The suspect specifically asked about the whereabouts of a learner who is the child of a SAPS member.
Fortunately, the child in question had already been collected earlier that day, and the armed man left the premises without causing physical harm. However, the targeted nature of the inquiry has prompted a high-priority investigation.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the suspect may have been wearing a school uniform at the time of the incident, potentially as a disguise to gain easier access to the school premises. SAPS has released a photograph of the person of interest to assist with identification efforts.
An enquiry docket has been opened, and detectives are working around the clock to identify and locate the suspect.
Members of the public with any information about the incident or the identity of the suspect are urged contact the investigating Officer: Detective Constable Mawande Mqhwayi at 073 734 2611 – or report it anonymously on the MySAPS mobile app.
