9 pupils at Kranskop school held on arson and theft rap

NINE pupils have been arrested on arson and theft charges, following unrest at eSokheni High School in Kranskop, near Greytown.

Pupils downed their books on Monday.

“The protesting learners allegedly resorted to burning of school property and vandalism after they demanded that a new school should be built, and that they be provided with learner transport, since they are forced to travel long distances when travelling to school,” KwaZulu-Natal Education spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa said yesterday.

The principal’s office, the staff room and educators’ cottages were damaged, and photocopying machines, a data projector, 26 tablets, various files, a TV and DVD player and a lawn mower were all either stolen or destroyed.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said Kranskop police and Crime Intelligence had made several arrests on Tuesday night. They recovered bicycles, laptops and cellphones allegedly stolen from the school during the protest action, Zwane said.

“It is alleged that the pupils took property from the school and fled. A case of arson and theft was opened at Kranskop police station,” Zwane said.

“The station commander and her team, assisted by Crime Intelligence, gathered information about the whereabouts of the property that was taken from school.”

Acting provincial police commissioner Major-General Bheki Langa warned pupils against vandalising school property.

“Damaging the property will not solve the problems and it will take years to fix the damage,” he said. “Learners need to resolve their differences with the school management or with officials from the Department of Education.”

Those arrested are expected to appear in court soon.

Mthethwa said the department was frustrated. “We believe the burning of a school has deprived learners of the right to basic education as enshrined in the constitution,” he said.

“This will cause a severe interruption in educating learners. Money budgeted for other essential educational necessities will now have to be redirected to remedy the damage caused.

“This is a huge setback for a province that already has huge education backlogs.”

Mthethwa said teaching and learning had been temporarily suspended for the safety of the school community.

“A meeting of all education stakeholders will be convened at the school on Friday to try to find lasting solutions,” he said.