By OBAKENG MAJE
More than 50 learners including a teacher were allegedly robbed of their tablets and laptops during a school camp at Are-Fadimeheng Secondary School in Jouberton Township, near Klerksdorp on Sunday.
It is alleged that in the early hours of Sunday morning at around 4 a.m., six armed men wearing balaclavas gained entry to the school premises. According to allegations, the armed robbers tied the security guard in his guardroom before they proceeded to where learners and a teacher had lodged.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aaftje Botma said learners and a teacher had gathered for an organised weekend camp for Grade 12 Physical Science learners.
“A business robbery case was opened and no arrests thus far. It is alleged that the learners at the school were busy with their studies when the suspects wearing balaclavas, entered and pointed them with firearms before taking some cell phones and laptops.
“No injuries were suffered and learners and a teacher were taken to Tshepong Complex Hospital for counselling,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi condemned the incident. Motsumi further said learners were voluntarily joined by five other accounting learners.
“This is an act of cruelty and we call for the perpetrators to be found and brought to book. I am gravely aggrieved by this barbaric act that is deliberately set at drawing an African child backwards.
“As the department, we are progressively improving the quality of education of learners by exposing our learners through engagements that bridge the technological divide by affording them gadgets for educational purposes,” she said.
Motsumi added that it seems they live in a society that is contrary to the progress of the very African child.
“This is unbecoming behaviour and needs to stop. Now we are left with learners with no gadgets and emotionally damaged. I earnestly ask our South African Police Services (SAPS) to move swiftly in their search and arrest of these criminals and bring them to book.
“In the same breath, we are thankful to the Department of Health for stepping in to administer psychological evaluation to the learners. The department will continue to administer psychological support to all learners as of Monday,” said Motsumi.
The Guardian 