Home News Criminals, vandals strike at 26 N Cape schools

Criminals, vandals strike at 26 N Cape schools

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The incidents have all taken place during the lockdown period. MEC Mac Jack pointed out that schools represented a beacon of hope in society and condemned the criminal activities.

THE NORTHERN Cape MEC for Education, Mac Jack, has strongly condemned incidents of vandalism and theft that occurred at 26 different schools in the Province.

The incidents have all taken place during the lockdown period.

In one of the incidents, which occurred at Kelemogile Primary School, a farm school just outside Ritchie, the safety doors and windows of the school were broken. All the tablets at the school were stolen.

In the Pixley ka Seme District, a total of seven schools fell victim to criminal activities.

At a school in Van Wyksvlei, a cleaner at the school is alleged to be a suspect in an incident where the principal’s office was ransacked and the administration office was vandalised. Other items at the school are said to also have been vandalised during the incidents.

In the ZF Mgcawu District, seven schools were vandalised and burgled.

Burglars were arrested in the school building of Upington High School after they were caught in the act with the assistance of the school’s CCTV system.

At Refentse Primary School, all taps and toilet pipes were stolen.

Three schools in Namaqua District, including Hantam High School, were also burgled.

The burglars broke into the computer room of Hantam High School and caused severe damage to the facility. All stolen computers were however recovered by police.

Nine schools were vandalised in the Frances Baard District.

In one of the incidents, two personal computers and a printer were stolen from Dikgatlong High School in Delportshoop which suffered two burglary incidents.

Six classroom door locks were broken at Vaalharts High School in Jan Kempdorp.

At Motswedi Thuto Intermediate School in Hartswater, two air conditioners, valued at R8 000 each, were stolen and the staff room door was vandalised.

At Delportshoop Intermediate School the borehole was damaged after the cable was ripped off and the pump was removed.

Jack pointed out that schools represented a beacon of hope in society and condemned the criminal activities.

He urged communities to take ownership of the facilities and to report those guilty of the incidents to the police.

“If vandalism or violence is rife in our communities, it is likely to occur on our school premises. School communities and parents must play their role in our society as our homes are the first institutions of learning. Education is not a departmental or a government programme, but a societal matter. Schools are where we prepare our children for a better future.

“We need to guard and protect our learning institutions against any form of vandalism and theft. We encourage community members to report any wrongdoing to law enforcement officers so perpetrators can be brought to book,” said Jack.

All incidents were reported to the police.  

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