Cape Town – Fifty Western Cape schools have come under siege from criminals since the start of lockdown, with thieves making off with learning resources worth hundreds of thousands of rand.
The provincial scenario takes the number of schools targeted nationally to 233.
The Basic Education Department this week announced that 183 schools were vandalised in 18 days, including 55 schools in Gauteng, 72 in Mpumalanga and seven in North West.
Western Cape schools that have been targeted stretched from the Cape Flats to the Winelands and the Karoo.
At Lwandle Primary School in Khayelitsha, thieves hit on Easter Sunday and made their way into the administration, where they stole the secretary’s computer. They then moved to the principal’s office by breaking the door.
The Sosebenza Primary school governing body (SGB), also in Khayelitsha, said computers kept in a storeroom were stolen.
Fortunately, a mother blew the whistle on her child whom she suspected of being involved, said SGB chairperson Thokozani Ncayiyana.
“While inspecting the school last Thursday, we noticed that the burglar bars at the storage room were bent. Two boxes that had computers and a keyboard were gone.
"The next day, a resident, who doesn’t stay far from the school reported that her child could have been involved because she found a box in his room.
“We were able to recover the stolen items. Our schools are vulnerable to being targeted by criminals, either because of a lack of security or proper fencing, something that is not new,” said Ncayiyana.
Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the majority of incidents had been in the Metro Central district, followed by the Eden and Central Karoo districts.
“The WCED would like to thank community members who have reported suspicious behaviour in and around our schools.
"We would also like to appeal to all communities to please assist us further by reporting suspicious activity or the sale of goods obtained at schools. Some incidents occurred during the day, and not at night time,” she said.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga condemned the incidents of vandalism, burglary and
destruction of schools.
“It is quite disheartening that criminal elements in our communities could destroy the
infrastructure of their own children
with such apparent impunity.
“I am in constant touch with
the minister of police (Bheki Cele),
and with the assistance of the state
intelligence forces, we are following
leads to the immediate arrest and
prosecution of every single criminal
responsible,” she said.
In his weekly newsletter,
President Cyril Ramaphosa said it
was despicable that criminals were
using the lockdown as a cover to
break the law when law enforcement
authorities were occupied with
supporting the national effort to
contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is a great indictment of our
society that dozens of schools have
been burgled, trashed or burnt to the
ground. When the lockdown is lifted
and learning resumes, thousands
of our children will have no school
to return to, depriving them of the
right to education.
“That public property is being
vandalised while the entire country
is experiencing hardship because of
the lockdown is a demonstration of
utter disrespect and disregard for the
majority of South Africans who are
law abiding.”
Meanwhile, teacher unions
are hard at work, along with the
Department of Basic Education, to
find ways to catch up on time lost in
the current academic year.
Almost five weeks have been lost
after schools were closed to help stop
the spread of Covid-19.
National Professional Teachers’
Organisation of SA executive director
Basil Manuel said they were in
discussions with the department on
a way forward and he believed there
was enough time to catch up.
Motshekga is expected to make
proposals before the Cabinet this
week that will outline measures to
make up for the lost time.
Department spokesperson
Elijah Mhlanga said: “The minister
presented the Department of Basic
Education’s recovery plan to the
National Coronavirus Command
Council yesterday (Monday) and
we anticipate that the Cabinet is
going to consider the proposals on
Wednesday (today). The minister will
unveil the plans thereafter.”