The Western Cape Education Department has seen a significant drop in reports of burglary and vandalism during the summer school holidays, decreasing from 47 incidents last year to 36 this year. This follows a previous report indicating potential losses exceeding R1 million due to these incidents.
A total of over 100 windows were damaged at one school and various infrastructure and equipment were either stolen or damaged, such as electrical cables, plumbing fixtures, and kitchen appliances.
Education MEC David Maynier said the department had subsidised holiday security at 441 schools, and 32 were infiltrated by criminals. He said the department would not be identifying the schools for security reasons.
“The number of incidents of burglary and vandalism which occurred at Western Cape schools over the 2025/26 summer school holiday has decreased significantly, with 36 incidents reported by 32 schools,” Maynier explained.
“This is a marked decrease compared to the 47 incidents reported by 34 schools during the 2024/25 summer holidays, demonstrating more effective target hardening and monitoring of school properties.
“We subsidised holiday security at 441 schools during the holidays to protect school properties and have worked closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and law enforcement to increase vigilance around our schools.
“Nevertheless, this is still 36 incidents too many. Items stolen or damaged during this period range from fencing, electrical cables, and plumbing fixtures to kitchen equipment and food for learners. In one particularly alarming incident, over 100 windows at a school were deliberately damaged – an act of senseless criminality.” Maynier added that when criminals enter the school grounds for criminal acts, they are robbing children of their education.
“Every single item that is damaged or stolen must be replaced, which diverts funding from the core task of educating our learners so that they can get a job or study further when they leave school,” he said. “Stealing from a school is stealing from a child’s future.” He called on the parents and community to become the custodians and guardians of the schools.
“A watchful school community can thwart even the most dedicated of criminals and vandals, so we urge the public to keep a close eye on their neighbourhood schools and to report any suspicious activity to SAPS or our Safe Schools hotline (0800 45 46 47) immediately,” he added.
“If you have any information about the incidents that occurred over the school holidays, please speak up. You may hold the key piece of information that will allow SAPS to arrest the perpetrators and recover our schools’ stolen property!”
Just six months ago, the WCED said it would have to pay out over R1 million due to the spate of burglaries and vandalism caused at schools during the June/July holidays. It has yet to be determined and reveal the latest impact financially.
In June 2025, the province recorded 57 incidents at 46 schools. Earlier, Sibongile Kwazi, secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), said they condemned burglary and vandalism at schools as it often happened in impoverished communities.
Kwazi said Sadtu embarked on the ‘I am School Fan Campaign’ to garner support from all communities to view schools as prized centres for the improvement of future citizenry. We thus reiterate the call for everyone to understand the value of schools and to endeavour to keep schools safe from the criminal element.
Cape Argus
Genevieve Serra
iol.co.za