The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says there was no attempted abduction of a child at Livingstone High School last week.
Instead, the department says the learner came under attack by a group of skelms who were after a cellphone.
There was panic after the acting school principal issued a letter to parents on Thursday explaining the “attempted abduction”.
The letter stated that the incident took place in the vicinity of the Leraar Road exit.
“Unfortunately, we had a case of near abduction occur outside our school premises this afternoon - Thursday 17 June. The incident took place in the vicinity of the Leraar Road exit. The learner in question is shaken up but safe. As a precautionary measure we ask that all learners wait in front of our school within the gates,” it reads.
The letter further states that Claremont Police were contacted and visible patrols requested while learners were warned against using this exit.
However, WCED spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond says further investigation revealed that it was actually a robbery.
“Upon further investigation it appears that this was not in fact an attempted kidnapping, but a robbery. The perpetrators allegedly tried to snatch the learner’s cellphone but the learner held on, making it appear to witnesses like they were pulling on the learner,” she says.
“The perpetrators then allegedly managed to get the phone and fled. The matter has been reported to SAPS, and an appointment with the school counsellor has been arranged for the learner. The alleged incident did not occur on the school property.”
monique.duval@inl.co.za