Issues pertaining to the safety of learners residing on Nuwe Hoop Sentrum’s campuses have worsened as criminal activities and vandalism to its campuses continues.
The school management has cried out to relevant stakeholders to assist in reducing the losses the school is faced with due to the ongoing crime in the area.
Carlos Moses, a teacher at the school, who also spoke on behalf of management, said they are at their wits’ end after yet another incident of theft, which caused a massive dent in the school’s budget.
The institution, which has two campuses located in Leipoldt Avenue, has been battling to keep them safe for the learners residing in their hostel.
According to Moses, during the three week June holidays, one of the campuses was once again preyed on by fence thieves.
“Two metres of the fence in front of the school were cut out and stolen.”
This incident took place while two security guards were deployed to the premises by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
“Those two guards had their hands full because all their attention was focused on our other campus on the corner of Grey Street, which has also been suffering severely from break-ins.”
This incident is the umpteenth one this year. The school is situated behind the Worcester Cemetery, which is home to many vagrant people.
Moses further stated people living in the cemetery had stolen most of the slabs dividing it from the school.
“Slabs are stolen each time they are newly placed because these people have free access to school premises. Some have even robbed learners of their cellphones, and then there’s the fence at the front of the school.”
These crimes have also been the reason the school’s insurance premium has skyrocketed.
“We are despondent and really don’t know what more to do because every time we fix something it either gets stolen or is vandalised almost immediately.”
Regarding solutions to the problem Moses says: “We would appreciate further assistance from the WCED for the school get CCTV cameras or more than two security guards.”
Moses also called on the ward councillor to assist in addressing crime in the area.
According to Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED, the Safe Schools Centre had only one case reported by the school.
“The school has an alarm system and physical security had been arranged for the June/July holidays,” she said. “The case was reported to Worcester police. The WCED appeals to all communities to assist us in keeping our schools and their assets safe by alerting any suspicious-looking behaviour to the authorities immediately or reporting stolen goods to police.”– Continue on page 4.
