Police Deny Losing AK 47 at Nelson Mandela Secondary School

The police have come forward to dispel social media rumours that one of its officers lost a firearm while on duty at Nelson Mandela Secondary School.

Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga was charged with setting the record straight on behalf of the police. Mr. Hamoonga recounted that on November 23, two men offered a female pupil a lift as she was on her way to sit her twelfth-grade examinations at Nelson Mandela School.

Hamoonga said that, after some time, the two men who offered her a lift went back to the school, complaining of having lost a phone in their car.

“When they reached the school, they found our police officer who was guarding examination papers and reported the matter to him who later on informed the Head Teacher Mrs Luhanga. The Head Teacher advised that the identification of the pupil could only be done at the end of examinations.”

“Later on the two complainants and the officer went through the classes and managed to identify the female pupil who denied stealing the phone. When going to the classes, the Head Teacher requested the officer not to go with the firearm, as it would scare the pupils,” Mr. Hamoonga continued

The police spokesperson hastened to add that the officer heeded the advice of the Head Teacher, left the firearm well secured, and went to confront the pupil with only a magazine in tow.

He said the female pupil was identified but denied stealing the phone.

Mr Hamoonga explained that it was when the two gentlemen and the students saw the officer carrying only the magazine that they concluded that he must have lost the firearm.

“We would like to re-echo our earlier warning to members of the public not to circulate unverified criminal incidents reports as this has a potential to instil fear in the general citizenry,”

Concluding his statement with a warning, Mr. Hamoonga said, “In the same vein we would like to warn all those behind the origination of these falsehoods that their days are numbered as the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.”