Cape Town - Three Philippi schools were burgled at the weekend, losing computers, lawn mowers and projectors, and principals suspect they might have been targeted by a single syndicate.
Thieves entered Sinethemba Secondary, Mzamomhle Primary and Siyazakha Primary through the roof and cut the alarm and camera wiring to get into the classrooms.
Fundisile Nkumenge, chairman of Sinethemba’s governing body, said theft had been a problem at the school.
“Last week they broke into our lab and took out all the copper taps; this week they’ve taken two laptops and our sound system.”
Nkumenga said the laptops contained the school’s data and administration details.
“Certain robbers are assigned to break in at certain schools,” he said.
Sinethemba was broken into on Sunday night; Mzamomhle was robbed the night before.
Welile Ngotso, the principal of Mzamomhle Primary, said he was shocked to see computer monitors scattered on the floor on Monday.
“Our computer lab was in pieces, the wiring broken. There was a hole in the ceiling and our cameras were broken too,” he said. Twelve computers were stolen.
Ngotso suspected that the people who broke into the school knew their way around. “They came prepared with pliers and crowbars because they knew the computer towers were locked in.”
The principal said the robbery would delay the third term reports.
“We have 1 029 pupils and now that our computers have been stolen teachers need to take turns working on the computers to do the reports.”
Nomsa Shosha, the principal at Siyazakha, said: “It’s frustrating because you want your school to be more functional; instead, it steps back and the community turns a blind eye.”
The provincial Education Department’s spokeswoman Bronagh Casey said communities needed to help protect local schools’ assets.
“I believe we can reduce vandalism if we work together. We appeal to communities to be our eyes and ears and report any suspicious behaviour in and around our schools.”
Police spokesman FC van Wyk said four suspects had been apprehended in connection with the Sinethemba burglary. One had appeared in court. The other three would appear on Wednesday.
Cadet News Agency
Cape Argus