By Doreen Mokgolo
While schools are only a week away from re-opening their doors for 2024, learners at Kwa-Thema Skills School, in Ekurhuleni will go back to a school stripped of resources.
Since the December school recess, the school has been burgled four times. Pots, gas stoves, a smart board, lawn-mower, air-conditioner, cameras and welding machines were stolen, and classrooms were stripped of security cameras and electric cables.
The smartboard was found abandoned in open veld after being tracked down through the fitted tracking unit which had been installed.
School principal Mzanywa Shongwe said after the third break-in, the school appointed a 24-hour security company to guard the grounds around the clock. When criminals attempted another robbery, a shoot-out ensued.
“We believe the criminals have inside information about the school grounds and where everything is kept. They broke into the store-room where all the equipment was kept for safety and when we appointed a security company, they came highly armed and ready for war,” he said.
The school offers specialised skills including hair and beauty tuition, food preparation, ICT, wood work and welding to learners with limited learning abilities.
The school principal said the damage is estimated at R500,000.
“How are we going to offer lessons and operate without these resources? We can’t afford to replace them since we had to dig into our coffers to appoint a security company which we couldn’t afford in the first place.
“The school security fence is full of holes on the residential side and we believe criminals use them to access the school grounds. This, too, we can’t afford to fix,” he said.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that the police are investigating cases of business burglary.
“The suspects were not arrested and we are urging anyone with information that may assist police about their whereabouts to come forward,” she said.
Pictured above: School principal Mzanywa Shongwe.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
