Western Cape Communities to Guard Schools Following R72,000 Vandalism Attack

Western Cape Communities to Guard Schools Following R72,000 Vandalism Attack

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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DA Urges Western Cape Communities to Guard Schools Following R72,000 Vandalism Attack

CAPE TOWN — The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape has issued an urgent appeal to parents, residents, and local stakeholders to actively protect school infrastructure following a destructive break-in at Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School.

The call for community mobilization follows an oversight visit to the school by provincial officials after criminals targeted the property in the early hours of the morning.

The attackers gained entry from the rear of the premises, focusing their destruction on the Foundation Phase classrooms. The infrastructure was heavily ransacked, with thieves stealing and destroying air-conditioning cables, electrical wiring, door handles, data projectors, and window frames. The school has issued a preliminary damage estimate of approximately R72,000, noting that the incident has severely disrupted daily learning and compromised student safety.

According to provincial data, the crisis extends far beyond this single property. Schools across the Western Cape are facing a relentless wave of burglaries, with 25 schools reporting 28 separate incidents during recent term breaks alone, accumulating nearly R400,000 in repair costs. Thieves consistently target high-value assets, including computers, projectors, plumbing fixtures, and security systems.

Peter Johnson, Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) and DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Education, emphasized that the financial fallout directly robs children of educational resources.

"Schools are the foundation of opportunity for every child," Johnson said. "When they are vandalised, learners lose resources and communities lose progress. This destruction takes money away from teaching and learning and weakens our education system. It must stop."

The DA highlighted that the costs of fixing intentional damages place an unsustainable strain on a budget already stretched thin by recent severe weather across the province. Every rand redirected toward fixing broken infrastructure is money stripped from hiring teachers, funding school nutrition programs, providing textbooks, and securing learner transport.

In response to the latest attack, the DA confirmed it will formally write to the Western Cape provincial Minister of Education to ensure Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School receives emergency maintenance support.

Johnson concluded by emphasizing that law enforcement cannot solve the issue alone, calling for a shield of community vigilance. "The DA in the Western Cape urges communities to remain vigilant, take ownership of local schools, and report any suspicious activity. Protecting schools is a shared responsibility that directly impacts learners’ futures."

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