With thousands of pupils expected to start school tomorrow, staff at a Bonteheuwel primary school were scrambling to fix a mess vandals had left at the weekend.
This includes fixing the pipework so pupils can use the toilets.
Protea Primary had their burglar bars and taps stolen, windows broken and their
toilets damaged.
Ward councillor Jonathan Cupido said that until late yesterday afternoon, the school’s foreman was repairing the windows.
It appeared, Cupido said, that the criminals knew the layout of the school and had carefully observed when the best time was to strike.
Because all the pipes were stolen the water had to be turned off, and Cupido said they hoped they would manage to get replacements in time.
“They even removed the doors just to get the brass hinges. We are hoping to get the situation sorted so pupils may enter a dignified place,” Cupido said.
He appealed to the public for help.
Provincial Education Department spokesperson
Millicent Merton said the school would apply for emergency repairs once it had completed a thorough assessment of the damage.
“Every holiday, the Western Cape Education Department does all that it can to protect our schools from burglary and vandalism. Our Safe Schools Directorate is very active in mobilising communities to look after schools, in conjunction with the police and community-based organisations.
“The directorate also works with police and security companies in all areas, including rural districts, to increase visibility around schools during holidays.
“Neighbourhood watches also include schools in their patrols.
“The co-operation of the community is essential to combat vandalism and to create a safe school environment that promotes teaching and learning,” Merton said.
At the start of the last school year there were 17 reports of vandalism at schools.
The trend is towards a steady decline, with 41 reports in December 2013/January 2014; 32 reports in December 2014/January 2015; and 21 in December 2015/January 2016.
In July last year there were 15 reports of burglary and vandalism, down from 21 over the same period in 2016.
Statistics for vandalism and burglary this holiday season were not yet available.
SA Democratic Teachers Union provincial secretary Jonavon Rustin said vandals usually struck during long holiday breaks. He condemned the incident.
Vandalism and theft was an attack on children’s futures, he said.
“They are denying the children the opportunity to have a safe learning space, which is unacceptable,” Rustin said.
Teachers at Protea Primary would also be set back in their preparations, he said.
“At the end of last year, teachers would have cleaned their classrooms, and this week put up posters.
“Now windows are smashed and they have to redo what they’ve done.”
Another Bonteheuwel ward councillor, Angus McKenzie, said there had not been any reports of vandalism at the 10 schools in his area.
This was credited to residents’ hard work and daily patrols, he said.
To report vandalism or burglary at schools, contact the police at the Safe Schools Hotline at 0800 45 46 47.