Department of Education Extranet

MEC MAC JACK CONCERNED ABOUT THE ALARMING HIGH RATE OF INCIDENTS AT SCHOOLS DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN PERIOD

The MEC for Education in the Northern Cape, Mr Mac Jack is very concerned about the alarming high rate of theft and vandalism incidents at Northern Cape Schools. We condemn these 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.

We call upon all our stakeholders to play their part in ensuring that education is not a departmental or a government programme but a societal matter. Education is not about a classroom and a book. All role players need to join hands to ensure that this is realised and that what we have achieved thus far is sustained.

Education, as a main driver for human capital development and the broadening of the skills base, cannot be the centre of dispute to the detriment of the learners especially from the rural as well as the urban poor and the working class. 

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.

In the Pixley Ka Seme District:

1. Petrusville High School: Break- in, in the building where NSNP grocery was kept. All the food was stolen from the store room. 

2. 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.

3. 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. 

4. JJ Rossouw Primary School in Victoria West: Doors were broken, and undisclosed stuff was stolen.

5. Vaal-Orange Primary School in Douglas: Fence was cut, Grade R educational equipment was stolen. 12 windows and 2 doors were broken. 

6. Bongani Primary School in Douglas: 2 Grade R classes, doors of Foundation Phase were seriously vandalised. Windows were broken. 

7. Willie Theron Primary School in De Aar: The school was broken into and the toilet roof was stolen.

In the ZF Mgcawu District:

1. S.C. Kearns High School: Part of the pallisades of the school were stolen. Some were found between the bushes in the field behind the school. Case was reported to SAPS. 

2. Upington High School: Burglers were caught in the act by SAPS in the school building and were arrested. Thanks to a very effective CCTV System. 

3. A.J. Ferreira High School: Burglars broken into the school. Nothing was stolen. They only vandalise doors, windows and cupboards. A case was opened. 

4. Frank Biggs Intermediate School: Some doors and windows were vandalised. 

5. Wilgenhoudsdrift Primary School: Thieves broke into the school through the roof and stole one tablet. Vandalism of windows and doors took place. A case was opened. 

6. Kakamas Primary School: Grade R Classes were vandalised. A case was opened. 

7. Refentse Primary School: All taps and many of the toilet pipes were stolen. A case was opened.

In the Namakwa District:

1. Hantam High School, Calvinia: Broken into the computer lab with severe damages to the lab. All stolen computers had been recovered by SAPS.

2. Dryfsand Primary School, Sanddrif: School vandalised over 2 week-ends. Case reported to SAPS.

3. Brandvlei Primary School, Brandvlei: Broken into the school hostel. Case of burglary reported to SAPS.

In the Frances Baard District:

1. Dikgatlong High School in Delpoortshoop: Two burglaries into two Departmental Head's offices and stole two (2) personal computers and a printer. 

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Eureka Primary school: Broke into the school and stole two (2) wheat eaters and alarm wires were damaged. 

5. Vaalharts High School in Jan Kempdorp: Six (6) classrooms door locks were broken.

6. 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. 

7. Motswedi Thuto intermediate school in Hartswater: Broke the staff room burglar door and staff room door, two (2) Air conditioners were stolen, both valued at R8000 both. Other items could not be identified. 

8. Delpoortshoop Intermediate School in Delpoortshoop: Borehole damaged, cable was wripped off, the pump was forcefully removed.

9. 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 in our communities. 

MEC Mac Jack has reminded all school communities, "that schools represent a beacon of hope in every society. This is where we prepare our children for a better future. We need to guard and protect all our institutions of learning against any form of vandalism and theft. We encourage our communities to take ownerships of our schools and report any wrong-doing immediately to law enforcement officers so that perpetrators can be brought to book and face the full might of the law".

All cases were reported to the South African Police Services (SAPS).

End