After a recent spate of vandalism, Joza Primary schools have improved their security in an effort to keep the criminals at bay.
After a recent spate of vandalism, Joza Primary schools have improved their security in an effort to keep the criminals at bay.
NV Cewu and Samuel Ntlebi primary school have undertaken security upgrades at a cost of more than R20 000. These include movement-sensitive beams, a first for the Grahamstown's township schools. NV Cewu was the first school to install beams.
Principal, Anele Ndyolashe, said the school was forced to act as crime had got out of hand. "Fifteen classrooms including all learners' toilets are without electricity as the suspects vandalised and stole electric cables and boxes," she said.
Taking Grocotts Mail around the premises, the schools caretaker, Sisa Mahambehlala, said: "In my 29 years of working at this school, this has never happened before. Make no mistake these people are electricians, they know what they are doing."
Ndolashe said the vandals stole 12 taps, three metal urinals, water pipe and cisterns. They also stole 18 plugs, 12 switches, window panes, six ceiling boards, 113 steel window openers, 12 classroom door stoppers, 12 padlocks, six fire extinguishers, two brass taps and eight down-pipe gutters. According to Ndolashe, the estimated cost for replacing the material is R100 000.
Neighbours CM Vellem have also installed beams. Principal Ntsiki Mene refused to disclose the cost for installing the beams and where the money came from, citing rights to privacy. Deputy Principal of CM Vellem, Mkhuseli Mampunya, said they were forced to upgrade their security system as the crime had affected the school severely.
DD Siwisa Primary stand-in principal, Zolani Gosani, said: "I've been in talks with Hi Tec security and they gave us quotations to the tune of R 24 200." Gosani said if all goes according to plan, the upgrades will be done soon.
District director of the Education Department, Amos Fetsha, has called upon members of the community in the areas in which the schools are situated, to assist in dealing with the burglaries.
"We're trying to mobilise the community together with their Community Police Forum (CPF) to report these activities because the people who commit these crime are part of their communities," he said, adding that the Department had also asked the South African Police Service for stronger police visibility in the schools with an improved patrol regime.
Grahamstown Police spokesperson captain, Mali Govender, said the burglary at schools is a growing concern and urged scrap metal dealers and school caretakers to work with the police in their efforts to curb the recurring problem. "For this kind of thing to continue happening there must be a market for it," she said.
