Schoolboy (9) shot dead in class

Police in South Africa have confirmed that a nine-year-old boy was hit by a stray bullet in his classroom in Lwandle, on Friday.

"The nine-year-old learner was in the classroom, just after a morning prayer, when he was hit by a bullet which came from outside and penetrated through the wall to injure the child at the back," Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said in a statement.

The incident happened around 8.20am at ACJ Pakade Primary School in Nomzamo in Lwandle.

"According to the information, classmates saw the child collapsing on the floor and they immediately reported the matter to the school teachers.

"The bullet is believed to have come from the direction of New Village informal settlement, which is opposite the school premises. However, it is not known who fired the shot and the motive thereof."

The boy was rushed to hospital. Earlier, Emergency Medical Services spokesman Robert Daniels said the boy was taken to the Helderberg provincial hospital in a stable condition.

Kinana said earlier reports on the boy's age were incorrect and that he is nine years old.

No arrests have been made. Anyone with information in the incident can call Constable Bongekile Ntsontso at Lwandle Police Station at 021-845-2060.