Thirty-eight schools in the Western Cape were vandalised or burgled during the June-July school holidays. This is four less schools reported during the same period as 2022.
PICTURE: iStockThe Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said items
stolen or damaged ranged from water piping to windows, cables to computers,
fencing to fire safety equipment, stationery to security gates, and numerous
other items.
Education MEC, David Maynier said the cost of replacing and
repairing these is still being calculated, adding that it will divert funding
away from the essential task of educating our learners.
The department subsidised holiday security at 436 schools
over the June/July holidays, but criminals still gained entry.
Maynier highlighted Crystal High School, after burglars
stole copper fittings and water pipes, last week, leaving the school flooded.
COURTESY: Chrystal High SchoolThe MEC said despite the decline in schools being
burgled/vandalised, the number of incidents remains ‘’unacceptably high, and
negatively affects our children’s education.’’
‘’At a time when we are providing extra classes to get our
children #BackOnTrack, we simply cannot afford to have normal teaching and
learning time disrupted by criminals targeting school property,’’ said David
Maynier, Western Cape Education MEC.
‘’Someone, somewhere, knows who the perpetrators of these
crimes are. Someone, somewhere, will be offered the goods stolen from our
schools,’’ he added.
Maynier appealed to the public to report any details about
these crimes, not matter how small, to the South African Police Services (SAPS)
on 08600 10111, immediately.
Done By: Mitchum George
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