The chicken run

Pupils who walk to Rand Park High School on or near Rabie Street, where it goes under the N1 Highway, have been targeted by muggers.

“I used to walk to school until I was mugged,” said a 16-year-old girl. “My friend and I were fetching our reports on the fourth of December. A guy asked for our phones and we ran. The man caught me, and my friend came back for me and he mugged us both.”

A 17-year-old boy said, “The first time I was mugged there were two men under the highway. One had a knife. The second time was last year, a week before school closed and I was mugged on the side path. A man asked about the weather before he walked ahead of me. As I turned the corner he was there with a knife. He took my phone. Last week two men physically searched me.”

Two girls aged 14 and 16 said walking was not safe because “street kids” followed them.

A 15-year-old boy said, “It is not safe because hobos are under the highway. My mom told me to take a different route.”

A 19-year-old pupil said, “Children are an easy target. Your safety depends on what time you walk. The worst time is after 3.30pm.”

The 17-year-old boy who was mugged twice said, “Normally there are two or three guys who wait under the highway. If they choose to mug you they will stop and talk to you. One will keep an eye on traffic while the other takes your cellphone and money.”

Rand Park High School spokesperson Heather Robinson said, “The safety of Rand Park High School’s pupils is of paramount importance. Our on-site security is strictly monitored and controlled to ensure a safe environment, and we provide support and advice to any pupil who is anxious about security when they leave the school property. The advice we give to our pupils is the same as what we would give to anyone in the area: be vigilant, walk in pairs and avoid isolated areas.”

Details: Rand Park High School, 011 793 1246, rphs@randparkhigh.co.za