Over 100 windows damaged in 'senseless' school vandalism
In one particularly alarming incident, over 100 windows at a school were deliberately damaged.
Image: FILE
OVER 100 windows at a school were deliberately damaged in what Education MEC David Maynier described as an act of senseless criminality.
Maynier on Sunday released figures on incidents of burglary and vandalism at Western Cape schools over the 2025/26 summer school holiday.
Thirty-six incidents were reported by 32 schools.
This was a marked decrease compared to the 47 incidents reported by 34 schools during the 2024/25 summer holidays, with Maynier saying it demonstrated more effective target hardening and monitoring of school properties.
“We subsidised holiday security at 441 schools during the holidays to protect school properties and have worked closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and law enforcement to increase vigilance around our schools,” Maynier said.
“Nevertheless, this is still 36 incidents too many. Items stolen or damaged during this period range from fencing, electrical cables and plumbing fixtures to kitchen equipment and food for learners.”
Every item that is damaged or stolen must be replaced, which diverts funding from the core task of educating learners so that they can get a job or study further when they leave school, the MEC said.
“Stealing from a school is stealing from a child’s future," Maynier said, adding a watchful school community can thwart even the most dedicated of criminals and vandals.
Members of the public were urged to keep a close eye on their neighbourhood schools and report any suspicious activity to the Safe Schools hotline on 0800 45 46 47 or contact Crime Stop on 0860010111, or SMS Crime Line on 32211.
Cape Times