Police arrest two after gun discovered in backpack at Atlantis school
ATLANTIS, CAPE TOWN — Two teenagers were arrested on Friday after an unlicensed firearm was discovered inside a backpack at a high school on Hermes Avenue in Atlantis, Western Cape police said.
Members of the police Crime Prevention Unit conducted a search of the school after receiving information about a firearm. Constable Ndakhe Gwala, speaking for SAPS, said the weapon was found in the bag and led to the immediate arrest of two pupils, aged 16 and 18.
“SAPS appeals to members of the public to surrender firearms of deceased persons. These unsecured firearms contribute to the most heinous crimes committed in society,”
The police confirmed further investigations showed the firearm was registered to a deceased person. No additional details about the make of the firearm, whether it had been fired, or the intended use were released in the initial statement.
Education department: schools must be weapon-free zones
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said it supported SAPS’ search-and-seizure operations at schools but could not immediately confirm specifics of the incident because the Safe Schools Unit handles such matters and the school was closed at the time of the inquiry.
Bronagh Hammond, a WCED spokesperson, reiterated that schools are designated dangerous object-and-weapon-free zones but acknowledged the challenge of preventing weapons entering school premises.
Hammond highlighted several reasons learners sometimes carry weapons to school:
- for protection while travelling to and from school;
- as a form of showing off; and
- with the intention to harm others.
She said: “It is a serious transgression,” adding that disciplinary action is necessary when pupils are found with weapons on school premises. Hammond also noted that even where security measures such as metal detectors are in place, learners can sometimes circumvent them, for example by throwing a weapon over a school wall.
Context and local implications
The discovery adds to wider concerns about unsecured firearms in the Western Cape. Police in the province are conducting searches for firearms registered to deceased owners after authorities warned that such weapons are often diverted into criminal activity. The SAPS appeal for the public to surrender firearms belonging to deceased relatives reflects that concern.
For Atlantis, a large township on the northern edge of Cape Town, incidents involving weapons at schools raise urgent questions about school safety, the security of learners travelling to school and the adequacy of preventative measures on campus.
Practical measures already suggested or used in schools include bag searches, metal detectors at entry points, increased staff and security presence, and partnerships between schools, parents and SAPS. The WCED’s statement acknowledged the limits of these measures when learners can still find ways to bring weapons onto premises.
What happens next
The two arrested teenagers will face further investigation by SAPS. The police did not yet provide information on whether additional charges would be brought or what discipline the school would apply. The WCED indicated the Safe Schools Unit would be involved in follow-up procedures.
| Item | Known detail |
|---|---|
| Location | High school, Hermes Avenue, Atlantis, Cape Town |
| Arrests | Two teenagers, aged 16 and 18 |
| Firearm | Unlicensed; registered to a deceased person |
| Agencies involved | SAPS Crime Prevention Unit; WCED Safe Schools Unit |
Parents and caregivers in Atlantis and across Cape Town will be closely watching how schools, police and the education department respond. The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of keeping learning environments safe while addressing the wider problem of unsecured firearms in communities.
Further updates are expected from SAPS and the WCED as investigations continue.
