Two schools in M/Plain burgled as 2023 school year concludes

The 2023 school year concluded on Tuesday, as learners are set to enjoy the festive season.

Term 4 ends a day earlier, as President Cyril Ramaphosa declared 15 December as a public holiday, following the Springbok victory at the Rugby World Cup

Meanwhile, The Western Cape Education Department has appealed to the public to keep a close eye on their local schools, which are targets of vandalism and burglary whenever schools are closed. This comes as two schools in Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain were burgled last week.

PHOTO: iStock

According to the WCED, Paramount Primary’s alarm was triggered over the weekend, which alerted the neighbourhood watch.

‘’They managed to scare off the perpetrators before they could steal anything. The perpetrators damaged a gate and it had to be fixed,’’ said Millicent Merton, WCED spokesperson.

It unfortunately can’t be said for Perservance High School, as power tools worth R12 700, amongst others, were stolen last Wednesday.

‘’A perpetrator gained access to a classroom and the office and stole a laptop, a telephone system and various tools. Electrical wires were ripped out. We appeal to the community to please report any stolen goods or information relating to this incident to the local police station,’’ said Merton.

Western Cape police confirmed the incident.

‘’Mitchells Plain police registered a business burglary following an incident between 2023-12-01 at 14:00 and 2023 -12-04 at 06:00 at a primary school in Rockies Street,  Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, where power tools worth  R12 700 were stolen. According to reports the complainant left work place all doors was properly locked and windows closed and on his return he discovered that the kitchen window broken and power tools stolen. No arrest investigations continues,’’ said Captain F.C van Wyk.

Education MEC, David Maynier, said his department has subsidized security for more than 400 schools over this holiday period, further urging residents living close to schools to report any suspicious activity to police.

‘’While we have subsidized holiday security for 486 schools over this holiday period, the best way to protect our schools is for residents living close to them to report any suspicious activity to the South African Police Service immediately, or to our toll-free Safe Schools hotline on 0800 45 46 47,’’ said David Maynier, Western Cape Education MEDC.

 

Done By: Mitchum George