When thieves stole computer equipment worth R600 000 from a school, officials say they also stole from the pupils’ future.
And now the school’s computer funding is in jeopardy.
After repeated break-in attempts throughout last week, thieves dismantled the alarm system on the roof of Daveyton Unity Secondary School and broke through two security gates to enter the lab.
They stole 40 computer monitors and five servers, worth R400 000, and 12 MacBooks, 12 digital cameras, 12 iPods and a hand-held digital video camera, all worth R200 000.
“The difficult question is to understand how criminals who live in and among our own families justify stealing our own children’s future,” said the school’s principal, Wandi Makhubu.
“This theft not only limits the prospects and hope of our local youth, but also consigns them to a future of joblessness and poverty.”
The money for the equipment came from Peermont School Support Programme’s R4.5m donation.
Daveyton Unity Secondary School was one of seven high schools selected for R40m meant to empower disadvantaged schools.
The fund’s administrator expressed reservations about continuing to finance the school.
“Does it warrant us investing in schools if the investment is not secure?” said the programme’s manager, Clifford Elk.
It wasn’t the first time thieves tried to pull this heist off. On Thursday, thieves broke into a computer lab and managed to steal two monitors, before they were apparently scared off by an alarm.
This happened after increased security, stronger locks and police pledging hourly patrols all failed.
The computer lab opened last year. Grade 8 and 9 pupils would come twice a week for interactive maths and English lessons.
Makhubu said academic performance increased and misbehaviour dropped after pupils started using the computers.
Zinhle Kgobe, a maths teacher, said having pupils practise problems on the computer made her job easier, because they saw their skills in action and stayed interested.
Pupils also used 12 MacBooks to make movies and websites, while a youth press team used them to report about school and topical issues.