Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
The KwaMashu police and the community are looking for a man who broke into a classroom and stole 16 desks at the Siphosethu Primary School in Ntuzuma.
The suspect broke down the desks and used them to build a makeshift shack for himself just outside the school fence.
The incident, which took place on Friday, has left learners and teachers at the school shocked.
The man is known to the community but has since fled the area. He was fed-up with having to wait for the government to provide him with a decent home.
When Sowetan visited the school yesterday pupils were sitting on the floor because they had no desks.
Teachers at the school said they were shocked to find the classroom empty when the school started yesterday morning.
They sent the pupils to look for the desks, only to find that they had been dismantled and used to build a shack outside the school fence.
School governing body chairman Nomathemba Zungu expressed disappointment that no one in the community prevented the incident from happening.
"Clearly someone must have noticed or seen something happening, but decided not take any action," Zungu. said. "It's high time that our community takes ownership of the school because the school belongs to them."
Zungu said the burglary was the fifth at the school.
"Two weeks ago seven computers were stolen from the school and have not been found," Zungu said.
"Before that we had three sets of computers stolen. For now it can be seen as mere criminality in which items are stolen - but what happens if these people start terrorising teachers and pupils?
"We don't have security during the day because parents can only afford to pay for one security guard, who works at night.
"To make matters worse the school is not even on the list of schools toe be given security by the government. So it means we remain a soft target."
Class at the school had to be cancelled yesterday amid the shock and chaos.
Concerned parents have called for a meeting today with everyone in the community.
KwaMashu police spokesman Captain Phindile Nxumalo confirmed the incident.
"When the police went to the shack, they discovered 14 carpet tiles, two chairs and three glasses," she said. "We are now looking for the man."
THEFT OF DESKS SHOCKS SCHOOL
Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
The KwaMashu police and the community are looking for a man who broke into a classroom and stole 16 desks at the Siphosethu Primary School in Ntuzuma.
The suspect broke down the desks and used them to build a makeshift shack for himself just outside the school fence.
The incident, which took place on Friday, has left learners and teachers at the school shocked.
The man is known to the community but has since fled the area. He was fed-up with having to wait for the government to provide him with a decent home.
When Sowetan visited the school yesterday pupils were sitting on the floor because they had no desks.
Teachers at the school said they were shocked to find the classroom empty when the school started yesterday morning.
They sent the pupils to look for the desks, only to find that they had been dismantled and used to build a shack outside the school fence.
School governing body chairman Nomathemba Zungu expressed disappointment that no one in the community prevented the incident from happening.
"Clearly someone must have noticed or seen something happening, but decided not take any action," Zungu. said. "It's high time that our community takes ownership of the school because the school belongs to them."
Zungu said the burglary was the fifth at the school.
"Two weeks ago seven computers were stolen from the school and have not been found," Zungu said.
"Before that we had three sets of computers stolen. For now it can be seen as mere criminality in which items are stolen - but what happens if these people start terrorising teachers and pupils?
"We don't have security during the day because parents can only afford to pay for one security guard, who works at night.
"To make matters worse the school is not even on the list of schools toe be given security by the government. So it means we remain a soft target."
Class at the school had to be cancelled yesterday amid the shock and chaos.
Concerned parents have called for a meeting today with everyone in the community.
KwaMashu police spokesman Captain Phindile Nxumalo confirmed the incident.
"When the police went to the shack, they discovered 14 carpet tiles, two chairs and three glasses," she said. "We are now looking for the man."
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