School vandalism
Motshekga calls for strict rules for scrap metal sector to curb school vandalism
Each year, schools have to bear the brunt of criminals stealing and damaging school infrastructure during the holidays so they can resell the items.
The community there protested on Wednesday and rejected government’s plans to relocate learners from the school, which was severely vandalised over the December break.
The school has been vandalised at least five times, with the most recent incident seeing the school robbed of electric cables, taps, roofing, books, window frames and doors.
The department's Director-General Mathanzima Mweli said most schools are ready to welcome children back from the December holidays.
Suspects ransacked facilities of IT equipment, food, sports equipment, fencing, stationery, and more.
Naptosa said it had received advice from the Education Department to guard schools that needed food supply for children's feeding scheme programmes.
The incident occurred during a protest where the community demanded a brick and mortar building instead of the prefabricated mobile classrooms.
A classroom and library at Marconi Beam Primary in Milnerton were set alight on Monday night. And the school hall at Sinenjongo High School in Joe Slovo was torched the following evening.
Plans are being rolled out in a bid to safeguard schools against the spread of COVID-19, with measures to ensure screening, sanitising, and social distancing could be implemented.
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu said a total of 225 schools were vandalised since the start of the nationwide lockdown.
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The Western Cape Education Department's Bronagh Hammond said that included in the list of stolen items were electricity cables, computer equipment, fencing, garden tools and security gates.
The department said at least 402 schools across several provinces have been targeted by arsonists or were vandalised and burgled.
Vandals, burglars, and arsonists have committed crimes during the state of disaster with over 180 schools targeted since the start of the national shut down.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said she was 'horrified' after it emerged that 183 schools had been burgled since the lockdown came into effect on 27 March.
It's understood valuable equipment and school nutrition groceries are among the items targeted in the crimes.
Angry parents demanded urgent repairs be done so that schooling could continue. Some parents kept their children out of class.
The department’s Kwazi Mthethwa said sections of Zwelinjani Secondary were set alight after reports were issued to pupils who felt they were marked unfairly.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said schools were prone to vandalism and break-ins during the festive season.