Thieves hit the Dinuphozo Primary School, in Nkobongo, twice over the weekend stealing goods valued at close to R40 000 and classrooms keys.
According to school governing body chairperson, Lindiwe Bingwa, on Sunday morning she was told that building material had been found next to the school fence.
“The thieves cut the fence and stole corrugated iron roof sheeting and steel poles that was to be for building classrooms. They hid some in the bush along the footpath outside the fence but most had already been taken away,” said Bingwa.
She said they checked that nothing else had been stolen and were satisfied that everything was in place. But when they arrived for work Monday morning they discovered the administration block had been burgled in the interim.
This time a plasma television, computer, intercom system, photocopier cables, keys to the classrooms and toilets and petty cash were stolen.
“They broke the kitchen window and removed the burglar guards but once they were inside they could not get inside the principal’s office so they made a holes in the ceiling connecting them the office and the reception area.”
Traditional dance instructor, Bonginkosi Ntuli said what made him angry was the theft of classroom keys as it would disturbed teaching until tomorrow, as the locksmith was only able to come to the school on Tuesday.
Bingwa said the school had been broken into four times in the past six months and they did not know what to do because all their requests for a security guard to the education department had been fruitless.
“We obviously live in a community that has a few unsavoury characters who take advantage of the situation even though it is their children, siblings and relatives who come to the very school that they steal from.”