LACK OF SPACE IN SCHOOLS

Parents point fingers at Edu department

The Police have launched a massive manhunt for suspect(s) involved in business burglaries after four Limpopo schools were reportedly robbed of stationery late last year and at the beginning of 2020.

Provincial Police Communications Head Motlafela Mojapelo indicated the complainant to have alleged that on 25 December at around midnight, he received information from a community member that the fence at Mogabane Primary School in Sebayeng has been damaged. He drove to the premises and on arrival found the security door forced open and approximately 15 boxes of stationery stolen, Mojapelo stated. .

In a second incident, according to Mojapelo, the complainant claimed that on 26 December at about 07:00 he received a call from a member of the school governing body (SGB) who informed him that the burglar door of the administration office at Jawe Jawe High School in Ga-Mashashane was standing open and that stationery had been stolen. In another robbery, Mojapelo said that the complainant in the third incident alleged that on 12 January at 16:00 she had left Mamabudusha High School in Mankweng locked. The following day at around 06:30 she was phoned by an SGB member and informed her that there had been a burglary at the school. Mojapelo added that the complainant reportedly rushed to the institution and on arrival found that two offices had been broken into and boxes of books with an estimated value of R250 000 stolen.

In the fourth case the complainant claimed that on 14 January at around 14:45 he had left all the office in Klaas Mothapo High School also in Mankweng locked. The following day at 05:50 he went back to the institution and upon arrival found the office door had been tempered with and the outside lights damaged. The complainant entered the office and noticed that stationery with an estimated value of R4 125 was missing. According to Mojapelo Police investigations into all four cases were ongoing and no arrests have been made yet.

The Department of Education has appealed to the public and specifically residents of the affected areas residents to assist with information that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrator(s) and recover stationery that was stolen.

Departmental Spokesperson Sam Makondo indicated that this was a case of theft which the department strongly condemned. He appealed to anyone with information to approach the department and the Police.