‘Minor’ school vandalism, burglaries reported

EIGHTEEN incidents of burglary or vandalism at Western Cape schools were reported during the recent winter holiday break.

Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said all the incidents were considered minor and the schools’ ability to function were not affected in any way.

She said the number of incidents had dropped in comparison to the same period last year when 23 incidents were reported.

The Cape Winelands District reported five incidents, the highest number in the province.

The department received three reports each from the metro central, metro east and metro north education districts while metro south district reported two incidents.

The West Coast and Eden and Karoo districts each reported one incident, while no incidents were reported in the Overberg.

Schäfer said the Western Cape Education Department’s Safe Schools directorate had increased security during the holidays at schools considered high risk. More than 400 schools had benefited from either 24- or 12-hour security and patrols.

In most cases copper pipes and taps and electrical wiring were stolen.

“The WCED is completing a cost analysis, but so far the cost for repairs for just over half of the schools has come in at aboutR250000. The department and schools could better spend these funds on improving the quality of education in schools. At the end of the day, vandalism represents theft from our learners.”

Earlier this year, Schäfer announced that Western Cape schools had reported 1 180 incidents of burglary and vandalism in the 2014/15 financial year – an average of three per day. She said the situation had become desperate. Schäfer appealed to residents to report any suspicious behaviour or activities in the vicinity of a school to the Safe Schools hotline on 0800 45 46 47 or to the police.