POLOKWANE – Thieves gained access to Good Hope Primary School on Monday where they stole valuable equipment.
As Good Hope Primary School is a school for needy learners, they do not charge school fees and rely on donations to meet their needs.
The school was opened in 2001 by the late Nelson Mandela to help the needy in the community.
An unknown number of burglars gained access to the school through the ceiling and stole six computers, two laptops, a plasma TV screen, music systems and gifts the school received at their farewell function.
Good Hope Principal, Cindy Buys, said it seemed the robbery was not a spur of the moment decision as the criminals seemed highly organised.
“They broke open the security gate and gained access to the school through the ceiling where they disarmed the alarm system. They then broke down the doors inside the offices and stole several items. It seems like they were professionals because they knew exactly what to do,” Buys explained.
Buys suspects the burglars might have knowledge of the school premises judging by the method they used to break into the school.
“We work so hard to improve the school and the community and it is sad that things like this happen. However, we will not be discouraged, we will continue to run the school and teach our children the same way we have been for all these years,” Buys continued.
She said they opened a case of burglary at the Westenburg police and are hopeful that justice will prevail.
Westenburg Police Spokesperson, Const Maphure Manamela, confirmed the incident.
“An investigation is ongoing. We highly condemn such acts as this is a school and the incident directly affects young children,” Manamela said, adding that anyone with information relating to the incident can report it to the Westenburg police station.
