The increasing numbers of school learners being mugged on their way to and from school has become a great concern for the parents.
Recently, two boys were walking from school on South Road in Lindhaven. They noticed three suspicious-looking men following them. The boys got scared and started running and the three men ran after them. Because the boys were carrying their school bags, they weren’t able to run at a high speed.
The men caught up with them and mugged them, taking their school bags, cellphones and the money that they had on them.
According to residents these kind of incidents happen on a daily basis. Learners are becoming criminals’ targets.
Hoërskool Die Adelaar’s school governing body is requesting parents to assist in patrolling around the school in the mornings and afternoons for the safety of the learners.
Sergeant Juliet Mogale, spokesperson for the Roodeport Police, said, “We always patrol the area as it is our duty to keep the citizens of South Africa safe at all times. The problem we have with school learners is that they take their cellphones to school and chat with friends while walking on the streets. Alternatively, they plug their earphones in their ears and then can’t even hear the cars passing. Their cellphones attract the criminals. Parents must monitor their children, because when we ask them if they know that learners are taking cellphones to school, we are often told that they were not aware. Some parents have told us that they allow learners to take their cellphones with them because their transport sometimes leaves them behind, and they need to call their parents to pick them up at school. Some learners use their cellphone cameras to to help them with their school projects”.
“We always ask school learners to keep their phones in their bags at all times to be safe. We will do our best to be in the vicinity, both in the mornings and the afternoons, just to keep them safe,” she added.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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