LA ROCHELLE Primary School staff are concerned about the rise in the number of break-ins at the school in the past few months.
The school also has a problem with the vandalising of its property, theft of stationery and broken windows.
It is believed the people who are terrorising the school commit these acts at night.
According to Mthetheleli Nqadala, a cleaner and school governing body (SGB) secretary, people use the school’s premises for sex and criminal activities during the night.
“In most cases, we find used condoms and some of these condoms are seen by the learners. This is unacceptable.
“Every week something is stolen here and we can’t do anything. We tried hiring security companies, but due to financial constraints we failed to hold on to them,” said Nqadala.
Nqadala emphasised that the school needs security to avoid all the problems it’s facing.
“There are not enough textbooks for the learners because some were stolen,” he added.
“The school is next to the park, which makes it easy for people to spot what they want to steal during the day. School dustbins get stolen almost every week. We have decided to lock them inside the classrooms, but if things continue like this the thieves will steal them out of the classrooms,” explained Nqadala.
The school principal, Jonas Sehoana, took the COURIER on a tour of the school and pointed out two classrooms that were broken into by criminals, as well as the smashed palisade fence.
The school is also worried about the learners’ safety and wants speed bumps built next to the main entrance of the school.
“We are fortunate no learner has been knocked over by a car. To prevent this from happening, we need speed bumps,” said Sehoana.
Sehoana told the COURIER the school needs help in the matters of security and speed bumps, for the sake of the learners.
“Our school needs security. If things continue as they are, nothing good will come of it for the little ones,” said Sehoana.
Councillor Faeeza Chame promised to go to the school to see what can be done to help.
The COURIER is still waiting for comment from the Moffat View police.
Sehoana is appealing to members of the public to help them with security. The school can be contacted on 084 274 2278 or 082 591 1414 or via email at sehoanadj@gmail.com
