The Springs Advertiser recently reported on Eastvale residents’ growing concern about the increasing crime in the area.

Residents living behind Laerskool Morester complained about how the abandoned classrooms on the school premises have escalated criminal activity, leaving them vulnerable and feeling uneasy.

The 14 mobile classrooms, which were erected in 2022, accommodated learners while new classrooms were being constructed.

The classrooms are now vacant and in a state of neglect, with broken windows and stolen doors.

“Since these containers have been placed here, we can’t sleep at night. There is constant criminal activity, and we sometimes hear gunshots nearby,” said a resident, who asked not to be named.

Residents also raised concerns about the overgrown grass on the school premises, which they say criminals take advantage of.

The grass was cut on March 11, following months of complaints from residents that it had been left unattended.

Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson, Steve Mabona, said the department is aware of the situation at the school.

Mabona said it is the SGB’s and school management’s responsibility to ensure that employees responsible for the maintenance of the school grounds do as expected.

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“Processes to relocate unused mobile classrooms to the identified overcrowded schools are currently underway.

“Accordingly, the school has sufficient security deployed to protect the properties and learners at the said school,” he said.

Mabona added that the department mitigates unsafe conditions through collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

“We capacitate schools on how to respond to unsafe conditions, ensuring that schools adhere to the Adopt-A-Cop programme to speedily receive attention in any case of emergency and ensure that the school’s perimeter fencing is intact so as to avoid intruders during the day and at night,” he said.

“We are monitoring the situation at the school.”