By Buziwe Nocuze
Children aged from five to eight were left traumatised after a gang of four armed men robbed staff of phones and stole laptops and other school equipment at gunpoint.
The Way of Life Junior University in Khayelitsha is a private school, offering education from crèche to Grade 3.
In CCTV footage, the two suspects can be seen entering the reception area with an employee who had no idea they were criminals.
The employee walked to his office, leaving the two suspects speaking with two receptionists.
They asked them what the school offered and how much they charged for a child to attend the school.
Then the other two suspects arrived, forcing another employee who was outside to come inside.
The four men then robbed the staff of their phones, closed the door, and moved to classrooms.
An employee who asked to remain anonymous said she thought she was going to die.
“I was busy with students when individuals entered the classroom with one of my colleagues. Not one second did I think that she was being accompanied by a criminal,” said the employee.
“I have never prayed like that before. I asked God to spare my life, and even though it is painful to lose [possessions] … at least we can always replace them, unlike losing our lives.”
Some children started crying when they saw the criminals carrying guns.
“It will take time for them to get over this,” said the employee. “We are traumatised and I am thinking how much more these little ones are going through. Criminals are heartless and sometimes I wonder if they do have kids in their homes.”
Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk said Harare police are investigating a business robbery case.
No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made yet.
Pictured above: The Way of Life Junior University kids and staff in Khayelitsha township, Cape Town were left traumatised after criminals robbed the staff at gunpoint.
Image source: Supplied
