A 12-year-old girl was killed in her school playground when a stray bullet from a gun battle between rival crime gangs hit her in the head.

Victim Firdouz Kleinsmidt was outside her classroom when she was caught in the crossfire in a township. In Cape Town, South Africa, on 30th January.

Two gangs, known as the 28s and the Nice Time Kids, were engaged in a gun battle near the Ieglaasi Nieyah Primary School when Firdouz was hit.

Worried parents flocked to school after a text warning went out declaring the area a code red danger zone.

A school bus worker told local media how she saw the youngster being shot right in front of her.

She said: “She was standing in front of me and then I saw her collapse.

“I was at the school to fetch the children after a message said the area was a red zone.”

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie told local media: “The Anti-Gang Unit was on the scene, we are pursuing all leads to get behind what happened.

“The girl was on the school premises when she was killed.”

No arrests had been reported at the time of writing.

Local officials have called for tougher police action against gangs.