Heerengracht Primary School principal, Eden Daniels, said that she was concerned about the safety of the schools in Eldorado Park, especially since the patroller programme in the area was discontinued.
According to the principal, a recycling bin was set on fire on the sports field last month.
“Naughty boys entered our school premises and decided to set the Ronnie Bin which was recently donated to the school, on fire. The bin was burnt to ashes,” said Daniels.
The principal said that a parent called her around 6 pm to inform her about the raging fire.
“Residents, parents and a local soccer team managed to extinguish the fire with much difficulty,” she said.
“The local fire department indicated that the fire could have caused serious damage to the entire Foundation Phase block because it was so close to the feeding scheme room where gas stoves are kept.
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“The children could also have been seriously injured in the blaze,” she added.
Daniels said that sergeant Govender from the Eldorado Park Police Station questioned the learners involved in the presence of their parents.
She expressed her disappointment in the fact that the children were loitering around with no adult supervision when they should have been studying.
The principal thanked the parents and community residents for their swift response in extinguishing the fire.
“If it wasn’t for the parents, our school would’ve been burned down. A school is as strong as its parent body, and they truly showed me that they have the school’s best interests at heart”, she said.
Daniels added, “Parents should continue to take ownership of the school by looking out for potential break-ins, vandalism and other crimes.
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We hope that the government reinstates the patroller programme because most no-fee schools are battling to pay security officials with limited resources at their disposal.
I also want to encourage children not to play on the school premises after school. Parents should also ensure that the Grade R play area is not played in after school,” she added.
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