The Kwa-Thema Skills School is appealing to the public for information regarding a series of burglaries that occurred on the school premises. The break-ins took place on March 2, 4, 5 and 6.
The African Reporter, accompanied by the school’s SGB chairperson Linah Maphuma, visited the affected classes.
Maphuma said that two classes, the creative arts and salon, were targeted, and various equipment was stolen, including a potter’s wheel used for pottery, musical instruments such as a violin and a trumpet, electric shavers, hairdryers, and a television.
She also said that the stolen items are used by the learners, who are equipped with different skills, and that their theft sets the school back financially.
Bongi Masuku with a cupboard door damaged during a break-in. Photo: Zamokuhle Ndawonde
Six hairdryers were stolen at the school’s salon. Photo: Zamokuhle Ndawonde
“It means we will buy the things that will equip our children for the job industry, so people can come, break in and vandalise the school. It is not fair. We truly need the help of our community to come forward with the information because these things help the learners to build a better future for themselves, so please help us as a school,” said Maphuma.
The school’s acting principal, Thapelo Tshetla, said that these burglaries have affected learning, as the school now has to raise funds to replace the stolen equipment.
“Going to the Department of Education to ask for the money will take time because there are procedures that need to be followed, and there is a schedule that the learners follow. So it is truly a setback,” said the acting principal.
He feels like the school is being targeted because of the number of incidents that happened in one week. Tshetla has appealed to the public who have information to report it anonymously to the school or to the local SAPS.
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