Staff Reporter
Property worth several thousand rands was destroyed when unknown people vandalised Ntha Primary School in Kroonstad yesterday.
Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe expressed his shock and disappointment on Twitter Wednesday after saying the school had just been refurbished and the vandalism was a major drawback.
“Vandalism at Ntha Primary School, after we had repaired the ablution facilities,” wrote Makgoe on Twitter after posting images of a vandalised male toilet where the washing basins and urinals had been reduced to rubble by what seemed to be a heavy hammer.
“This will really take us back. It is with heavy heart that we appeal to communities to safeguard and protect our schools from criminality,” he continued.
Several people immediately responded with some suggesting such acts should be declared treasonous while others felt it could be people trying to score security contracts in schools.
“This crime should be classified as treason,” wrote @Olefile_10.
@Tibane_Shiko simply wrote: “Security tenders.”
@keitumetse7212 had no kind words for those who did it: “This is really a barbaric act of ungrateful human beings. Demonic act…”
Provincial education department spokesperson Howard Ndaba could not immediately give the exact value of the damage at Ntha Primary School but said several millions have been spent fixing schools in preparation of the phased reopening.
“R11.9 million has been spent on fixing vandalised schools in the province. A further R97.4 million has gone to schools with infrastructure challenges such as ablution facilities, windows and doors.
“It is important to point out that this is what we are currently spending and if the vandalism continues these costs will sky rocket,” said a disappointed Ndaba.
About 75 schools where either burgled or vandalised across the province during the national lockdown which started in March. Motheo District, now Mangaung Metro had 33 schools vandalised followed by Thabo Mofutsanyane with 13. Lejweleputswa and Fezile Dabi each 11 schools while Xhariep District had seven.
Repairs are finished at 13 of the schools while 22 are nearing completion. Progress is still below 50 percent at 40 of the schools.