Vandals strike twice: ‘Stoute laaities trashed our school’
VANDALISED: Saambou Primary School in Manenberg
Saambou Primary School in Manenberg has been trashed for two days in a row.
The first incident happened on Monday night and teachers arrived the next morning to find holes in roofs and ceilings of three classrooms.
The culprits managed to gain entry to the classrooms and left everything deurmekaar, also causing damage to a fire extinguisher.
Teachers suspect stoute laaities are behind the acts of vandalism, and not necessarily skelms.
The staff tried to repair what they could after the first incident. However, the perpetrators returned the following night to do more damage.
“We suspect that it is naughty kids,” says teacher Mandy Jooste.
“There is a class where a teacher left a kettle and music player, that was not stolen.
“Only tennis balls were stolen and there was damage to the roof.”
Saambou is a no-fee school and a venue for some matrics who cannot write at community halls due to the ongoing gang shootings in Manenberg.
“We have no budget to fix the damage and money meant for something else will have to be used to fix the damage,” says Jooste.
The school did not report any incidents of vandalism and theft during the hard lockdown months.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says the vandalism is disheartening: “It is with great sadness to confirm that the school has been vandalised two days in a row.
“The school is working hard to become a beacon of hope in this community.
“Faced with financial challenges already, this kind of unnecessary and callous act is completely disheartening.
“It is the young learners of this school that suffer the most.”
Hammond says if anyone can assist the school financially, that would be appreciated.
“The school is completely devastated by this act. We appeal to the community to report any information they have on this crime.”