Cape Town – Police in KwaZulu-Natal are reportedly still gathering information regarding a robbery at Funulwazi Primary school in Pietermaritzburg.
Reports indicated that gunmen stormed the school on Thursday and fled the scene with laptops, cell phones and the principal’s vehicle.
According to The Witness, the gang of about six men cornered two teachers in the staffroom and ordered them to handover their cellphones, wallets and laptops.
“As they were about to leave, they demanded that the principal give them his car keys. They drove off in the principal’s car. We are all still traumatised and scared to go back to work. To make matters worse, [pupils] witnessed the robbery,” the report quoted a teacher who prefered to remain anonymous.
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It was alleged the incident happened amid a security alert, warning local communities that criminals were planning to hijack vehicles to set alight, as part of a ritual to honour a gang member who was recently murdered in the area, the report said.
However, the report said the allegations could not be confirmed.
Msunduzi ward 19 councillor Vusi Ngwenya confirmed the robbery, adding that teachers and learners were “extremely traumatised”, Southland Sun reported.
He said that the incident was confirmation that crime “has spiralled out of control” in the area amid widespread concern about inadequate school security in the province.
However, KZN Education Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi denied that inadequate security was to blame for the robbery that took place at the school and confirmed that there are security personnel and a security fence at the school, the report said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
