Vandalism in schools costs WC R10m a year

MEC said figures for just half the affected schools indicate repairs have already amounted to R800,000.

For many the first day of school poses no safety threat, but that is not the case for the pupils in the gangster riddled Valhalla Park area who attend Beauvallon Secondary school.

Monique Mortlock | 832 days ago

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Education says vandalism costs the department approximately R10 million every year.

The department says 21 schools fell victim to vandals during the summer break.

One Mossel Bay school was shut on the first day of the academic year on Wednesday, after vandals looted the school and destroyed toilet facilities.

Education MEC Debbie Schafer said preliminary figures for just half the affected schools indicate repairs have already amounted to about R800,000.

Her spokesperson Jessica Shelver said, "We deployed additional security for the 13 of our school in the Western Cape that are identified as high risk. We are pleased to see that the number of incidences has dropped significantly during the recent holiday period.

"The Metro central district reported the highest number of incidents in the province, and this obviously comes at a huge expense to not only the WCE but also the schools that are serving our communities."

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Vandalism in schools costs WC R10m a year

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