Protea Primary School in Bonteheuwel was vandalised over the holidays after community members revamped the library, garden and feeding scheme room.
The school’s administrating officer Lindsay Cupido says staff were shocked to see the extent of damage when they arrived on Wednesday to ring in the new school year.
She says after schools closed in December 2019, community members gave some areas a make-over but all their good work was undone by spiteful skollies including two school laaities.
“Our school won the Best School Garden award in 2018, then these boys came here and threw out everything,” says a disheartened Lindsay.
“There were herbs and onions growing in boxes, they threw it on the floor and also broke the wooden boxes.”
She says the school security was alerted to kids making a fire on the property on 31 December.
“Upon inspection, the security recognised the two boys, it was a 15-year-old ex-pupil and a 12-year-old current pupil of our school.
“He shouted at them and they ran away, that same day they also carved the letters JCY and symbols onto the school grounds and a bench.
“When we arrived (yesterday) morning, we found that the school feeding scheme room and the library was vandalised.
“They emptied the fire extinguisher onto the floor, broke seven locks to get into the cupboards, and broke pots.
“They got into the library through the ceiling, broke the electric wires and threw the books around.
TARGET: Bonteheuwel school. Picture: Supplied
“The people who made this library beautiful got paint sponsors and so on to make it look good, but these boys just damaged anything they could find.”
She says the matter has been reported to police but it’s not the first time the school has been vandalised.
“Once they went to the dam close to the school, caught a catfish and threw it into the school’s Jojo water tank.
“They also broke the pipes and this caused a stench because the fish started to decompose.
“The WCED had to come out and fix it and if it should happen again, it will cost us thousands because the WCED can’t repair more than once.”
She adds: “It’s very disheartening to think that kids would commit such crimes. We teach our learners about values, and respect is one of the most emphasised ones.”