Safety at public schools took centre stage last week when gun toting thugs pounced on Noxolo Xauka Primary School in Khayelitsha.
The criminals, four to six in number, reportedly entered the school on Tuesday 30 May in the afternoon and held the principal and teachers at gunpoint. They demanded cellphones and several school items before hijacking a parent and fleeing the scene.
Provincial police spokesperson Capt Nowonga Sukwana said Harare police were investigating a case of business robbery.
She said four unknown men entered the school in Makhaza. Two were armed with firearms and held students at gunpoint while the others grabbed cellphones.
Sukwana said police were on the lookout for the suspects, and no arrests had yet been made.
However, a spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Bronagh Hammond, stated that six unknown men had robbed the school.
She said: “It was reported that six males held the principal and four staff members at gunpoint while they stole a microwave, two computer monitors and three cellphones. They then allegedly hijacked a parent and drove off in their car.”
Hammond added the department would assist the staff through counselling.
“Thankfully, no physical injuries were reported, but our thoughts and support are with our colleagues who have had to endure such a traumatic and frightening experience. The department will also engage with the school on its security measures.”
Hammond added that Safe Schools would be required to conduct an “assessment”.
Harare Community Policing Forum (CPF) implored the community to cease buying stolen goods and instead report culprits to the nearest police station.
Funeka Soldaat, Harare CPF chair, described the incident as shocking. She urged the department to tighten up the security in the schools across the province.
“No-one is safe in our community. There is crime everywhere. We are appealing to the community to work with us (CPF) and the police to fight crime. You cannot tell me not a single person in our community doesn’t know the culprits. These are our brothers, uncles and sons. As a parent, when you see your son has a computer in his room, knowing exactly that he doesn’t work, why don’t you ask where he got it?”
Anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects could contact Crime Stop No at 08600 10111.