gunNews24 reports that pupils and staff at Primrose High School in Germiston had to run for cover after gunfire erupted outside the school on Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened on the corner of Main Reef and Johann Rissik roads, opposite the school. The area is highly contested by illegal miners, known as zama zamas, who operate in the defunct Simmer and Jack mine, which is now the site of a landfill owned by the Ekurhuleni Municipality. Gunfights between rival illegal miners routinely break out along Main Reef Road. Tracy Emeslin from the Primrose Community Policing Forum commented: “It sounded like fireworks; that's how many shots were going off. It was just another day of the zama zamas shooting at each other.” Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa indicated: "The suspects opened fire on our officers and during the shootout, six suspects were wounded and disarmed. One of the suspects, who attempted to flee the scene, was arrested." The suspects face charges of possession of illegal firearms and ammunition as well as attempted murder. Meanwhile, pupils returned to class after the situation calmed down.


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