Northern Cape schools

Image via Adobe Stock

Long list of Northern Cape schools trashed during lockdown

Schools in the province have been raided by burglars and vandals alike.

Northern Cape schools

Image via Adobe Stock

The MEC for Education in the Northern Cape, Mac Jack, is very concerned about the alarming high rate of theft and vandalism incidents in the province.

He condemned the barbaric acts of vandalism and burglary incidents in the strongest terms.

“Schools are a mirror reflection of our communities. If vandalism or violence/theft is rife in our communities, it is likely to occur on our schools premises. School communities and parents must play their role in our society as our homes are the first institutions of learning,” said Jack.

School infrastructure suffers under lockdown

“Education must be our centre of convergence and something that binds all of us for the good of the nation and humanity. These incidents happened amid the national lockdown period wherein communities have been instructed to stay at home to avoid the spread of the COVID-19.”

Jack said the following incidents were reported:

In the Pixley Ka Seme District:

  • Petrusville High School: Break-in at the building where NSNP groceries were kept. All the food was stolen from the store room. 
  • Kelemogile Primary School: A small farm school just outside Richie, Kimberly was broken into. Safety doors and windows were broken. All the tablets were stolen.
  • Van Wyksvlei; A farm school near Carnavon. The Principal’s office and admin office were vandalised. A suspect is a cleaner. It is alleged that the cleaner unlocked the doors and removed the PC with SASAMS in it, ransacked the principal’s office and demolished other stuff. The case has been reported to the police. 
  • JJ Rossouw Primary School in Victoria West: Doors were broken, and undisclosed stuff was stolen.
  • Vaal-Orange Primary School in Douglas: Fence was cut, Grade R educational equipment was stolen. 12 windows and 2 doors were broken. 
  • Bongani Primary School in Douglas: 2 Grade R classes, doors of Foundation Phase were seriously vandalised. Windows were broken. 
  • Willie Theron Primary School in De Aar: The school was broken into and the toilet roof was stolen.

In the ZF Mgcawu District:

  • S.C. Kearns High School: Part of the palisades of the school were stolen. Some were found between the bushes in the field behind the school.
  • Upington High School: Burglars were caught in the act by SAPS in the school building and were arrested. Thanks to a very effective CCTV System. 
  • A.J. Ferreira High School: Burglars broken into the school. Nothing was stolen. They only vandalise doors, windows and cupboards.
  • Frank Biggs Intermediate School: Some doors and windows were vandalised. 
  • Wilgenhoudsdrift Primary School: Thieves broke into the school through the roof and stole one tablet. Vandalism of windows and doors took place.
  • Kakamas Primary School: Grade R Classes were vandalised.
  • Refentse Primary School: All taps and many of the toilet pipes were stolen.

In the Namakwa District:

  • Hantam High School, Calvinia: Broke into the computer lab with severe damages to the lab. All stolen computers had been recovered by SAPS.
  • Dryfsand Primary School, Sanddrif: School vandalised over two weekends.
  • Brandvlei Primary School, Brandvlei: Broken into the school hostel.

In the Frances Baard District:

  • Dikgatlong High School in Delpoortshoop: Two burglaries into two Departmental Head’s offices and stole two (2) personal computers and a printer. 
  • GN Pressly Intermediate school in Longlands: One class was severely damaged and two classes were damaged. Burglar door, classroom door and store room door and class windows were damaged.
  • ER Mocwaledi Intermediate School in Hartswater: Broke the lock gate and window of the hall, broke window in the principal’s and clerk’s office, broke the lock and burglar door at the kitchen, stationery room, staff room, computer room and Grade R classes.
  • Eureka Primary School: Broke into the school and stole two weed-eaters. Alarm wires were damaged. 
  • Vaalharts High School in Jan Kempdorp: Six classrooms door locks were broken.
  • Banksdrift High School in Hartswater: There was break in, kitchen door was damaged, electricity was tampered with to set automatic lights off, two taps were stolen. 
  • Motswedi Thuto Intermediate Cchool in Hartswater: Broke the staff room burglar door and staff room door, two air conditioners were stolen, both valued at R8000.
  • Delpoortshoop Intermediate School in Delpoortshoop: Borehole damaged, cable was ripped off, the pump was forcefully removed.
  • Homevale High School in Roodepan: Part of the school fence was stolen.

In total, 26 schools in the Northern Cape have been affected due to these unfortunate incidents. All cases were reported to the SAPS.