Break-ins thwart learning at Manenberg school
Three break-ins at a Manenberg primary school in the past two weeks have caused an estimated R100 000 worth of damage.
A printer, a laptop, plumbing, electrical cabling, resource material and marching-band equipment and uniforms were stolen during the burglaries at Saambou Primary. The marching-band equipment and uniforms are worth R13 000.
The cost of the damages far outweigh the value of the stolen items, according to the principal, Angelo Valentine.
“They came through the asbestos roof to gain access to the school. Our administration block, library, storeroom and girls’ toilet have been targeted.
“We were left without water and electricity, and this disrupted learning and teaching. We are grateful to the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) as they responded within days after we applied for emergency repairs. For now our basic needs are functional,” he said.
On Friday May 19, parents, teachers and pupils held a placard demonstration to appeal to the community to take ownership of the school. Mr Valentine said they thought the break-ins were a thing of the past, as the last one was in 2019.
“We decided on a placard demonstration because we wanted to highlight our plight and appeal to the community to help us in our quest to educate our children. We are a no-fee school. Our parents don’t have money. Our school’s drum line (marching band) is our pride and joy. Over the last four years, we have been winning first-, second- and third-place trophies at competitions.
“We had to do the fund-raising ourselves for the equipment and uniforms needed for our drum line. Many times our fund-raising initiatives rest on our teachers’ shoulders, as many of our parents are struggling financially.
“Our school is not just about academics, and having our equipment stolen is a huge loss to us. The drum line excites our children. I am appealing to the community to help us rebuild on what is lost. The morale at our school is so low now, and this inadvertently affects our teaching and learning - and it is so close to examination time.”
Education MEC David Maynier previously appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity at schools.
“Do not underestimate your ability to thwart crime in our schools. Reporting any suspicious activity in the vicinity of our schools to the police or the Safe Schools hotline (0800 45 46 47) immediately can make all the difference in apprehending the perpetrators and recovering stolen property. If you see something, speak up. There must be no place where the criminals targeting our schools can hide,” he said.
Manenberg police spokesman Captain Ian Bennett also appealed for the community’s assistance.
“Destroying infrastructure at our schools is robbing our children of their right to education. Many children’s dream for their future start at school. There are some people who have this attitude that the schools belong to government and they should repair it. However, if children can’t go to school because of the conditions there, some might end up dropping out of school and this leads to the already high unemployment statistics.”
