By By Aeysha Kassiem
Twelve closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been stolen in a few weeks at a Cape Town school that was burgled almost 40 times last year.
Of the 18 cameras initially installed at Cascade Primary School in Eastridge, Mitchells Plain, 12 have been stolen since the start of the new term on July 14, school governing body chairperson Klaas Sarels said.
Mitchells Plain police spokesperson Harry Brickles said they were investigating.
'From a parent's point of view, children feel very very unsafe, especially during break' Sarels said: "We still have some, but most have been stolen; eight about two weeks ago and then four in a another burglary.
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"So far there have been four, possibly more burglaries this year.
"From a parent's point of view, children feel very very unsafe, especially during break."
Sarels said while the school also had five Bambanani volunteers, it was difficult for them to "secure the premises" because of gaps in the fencing around the school. Part of the fence was "standing, while a part of the fence is down".
"The (broken) fence around the school gives people free access and anyone can come on to the premises," he said.
'It's difficult for teachers to do their jobs when they can't lock their doors' Sarels said about 90 percent of the classroom doors had to be replaced as handles were broken. "It's difficult for teachers to do their jobs when they can't lock their doors," he said.
He said the school governing body was appealing to private companies to assist the school with repairs. The school can be contacted on 021 397 6030.
CCTV cameras at some of the province's high-risk schools were installed in June to help curb burglaries and vandalism.
For safety reasons, the schools where the cameras were located were not identified.
The cameras, which have already yielded some success elsewhere, were expected to work in conjunction with police reservists and Bambanani volunteers.
At the launch of the installation in June, Safe Schools co-ordinator Nariman Khan said that cameras located along the perimeter of a school could zoom in up to 480 metres. Cameras would also be located in school corridors, in some of the classrooms and on playgrounds.
Khan could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
Education MEC Yousuf Gabru said he was "extremely disappointed" that the cameras had been stolen and that it proved that communities needed to assist in ensuring that vandals did not target schools.
aeysha.kassiem@inl.co.za
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This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Times on August 11, 2008
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