KwaDukuza special needs school left with 2 buses after petrol bomb attack

A school bus and stockroom at a special needs school in KwaDukuza were damaged by a petrol bomb last Thursday afternoon, September 2.

The Stanger Training Centre at Glenhills, which caters for special needs students, was damaged but nothing was stolen and no one was injured.

The school is now struggling to transport its students to class with its 2 remaining buses.

“Almost all of our students use the school’s transport and the 35-seater that was burnt was crucial in getting students from more outlying areas,” said principal, Dr Kiren Gokar.

Aside from the bus, the school lost a stockroom which was used to securely store valuables.

“We kept laptops and tablets and other expensive equipment like lawnmowers and chainsaws for school maintenance in the room,” he said.

KwaDukuza Saps spokesperson, Priya Nunkumar confirmed that a case of arson and malicious damage to property were opened and the matter is under investigation. No arrests have been made.

Stanger Training Centre has been open for 35 years and fulfills a vital need for the greater KwaDukuza community, educating children with autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

As principal Gokar says, the 245 students are equivalent to a mainstream school of 1 000 students in terms of care and losing the bus and stockroom are devastating.

If you are able to help out with donations or temporary transport, you can contact the school at 032 552 5498 or email them at stangertrainingcentre@telkomsa.net.