An 18-year-old pupil at Dowerglen High School in Edenvale has been rushed to hospital by paramedics after being hit in the chest by stray bullets as cable thieves ran through the school trying to evade security guards on Wednesday.

"It is understood that he was sitting in the classroom when they heard the gunshots. The boy was hit in the chest and immediately rushed to the clinic," ER24 confirmed in a statement on Wednesday.

The perpetrators were stopped in Dunvegan on the suspicion of being cable thieves, they allegedly shot one scholar while trying to flee the scene, according to the Bedfordview Community Policing Forum (CPF).

Police officers are on the scene, but officials say they will only be in a position to comment later this afternoon.

The Gauteng Department of Education was not immediately available for comment.

More information to follow. The story is developing.

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