Media Release
Minister of Education Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape

26 April, 2016

Minister Schäfer condemns theft and vandalism at Arcadia High School.

Statement by Minister Debbie Schäfer, Minister of Education

I was so disappointed and angry to hear that Arcadia High School in Bonteheuwel was victim to an incident of burglary and vandalism over the weekend.

Five classrooms were broken into at the school following a delivery of e-learning and teaching materials to the school over the weekend. The windows and doors were vandalised and copper piping and taps in the various classrooms were stolen. This caused flooding in the upstairs classrooms. The water seeped through the wooden floor and penetrated the concrete ceilings of the two computer labs on the ground floor. In other classrooms, light fittings were torn from the ceiling and electric wiring of a smartboard was removed.

Educators at the school tried to save some of the equipment when they arrived at the school yesterday.

We are currently completing a cost analysis. However, so far an estimated cost for reparation work comes in at around R1 million. This is theft from our learners.

We are trying to improve education opportunities for learners in our poor communities, and a few thieves are prejudicing the opportunities of hundreds of learners.

Contingency plans have been put in place to limit disruption to teaching and learning time. Catch up programmes will be instituted for any work that was missed yesterday.

Not only has this incident had a detrimental effect on teaching and learning at the school but the incident has also had a negative effect on staff and learner morale.

The Bonteheuwel area has been plagued by a flare up of gangsterism and violence over the last couple of weeks and our schools are meant to be a place of safety and solace. I therefore condemn this act in the strongest terms.

While we can and do try to safeguard our schools with additional security measures, we cannot win the fight against school burglary and vandalism without the support of SAPS and the surrounding community. Schools, given their extensive physical infrastructure, are very difficult areas to secure.

A school is a community asset. Everyone should help protect schools as it is fundamental to the future of our children.

I urge anyone in the community who has any information regarding the incident to report this to the South African Police Service. I also urge owners of scrap yards and second hand goods not to purchase materials that they suspect have been stolen, otherwise they are simply aiding in theft from our learners.

I also appeal to the Bonteheuwel community to immediately report any suspicious behaviour around your schools to the South African Police Service or our Safe Schools Call Centre on 0800 45 46 47.

The ongoing scourge of burglary and vandalism of our schools simply has to stop. As a department we simply cannot afford to keep repairing and replacing what is stolen or vandalised.

Media enquiries:
Jessica Shelver
Spokesperson for the Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 076 175 0663