Schools burgled and vandalised
Schools have become soft targets for criminals, especially during the weekend when there is no activity, but the community is not taking it lying down.
Duduza – In the early hours of Sunday morning two suspects forced their way into Mmuso Primary School.
“They broke into the computer lab, the administration offices and some of the classrooms.
“This is not even the first time this has happened this year,” explains Thembinkosi Dyani, the chairperson of the schools governing body.
It is alleged the suspects gained entry to the computer room through the ceiling of the adjacent class.
They broke through the layer of corrugated iron in the ceiling to make it through.
“They took two computer towers and completely stripped another.
“Fortunately, the newer equipment is all mounted to the desks.”
Dyani says that stationery supplies and toilet paper were missing as well.
Nine windows are said to have been broken during the incident.
In a separate incident, Roseview Primary School was burgled on Friday night.
Sergent Harry Manaka of the Duduza SAPS says the community can work together to ensure that schools are safe.
“Criminals target schools because they become ghost towns during the weekends.
“But we need the community to report any time they see people lurking around or jumping over fences into schools.”
Manaka says Sibonisiwe Primary School has reported four incidents of burglary this month alone.
He says it is also important to have preventative measures such as patrolling.
On Monday the community met to discuss a way forward.
Dyani, who is also chairperson of the People’s Radical Forum, says they will provide whistle-blowers who live around the school.
They will also provide 30 patrollers to work over the weekends.
“We are not doing this for Mmuso Primary School but to make the whole community safe for our children.”
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