Police in Gauteng have arrested 25 more suspects in connection with a spate of school burglaries in the Province, bringing the total arrests to 66.
Police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo says latest two suspects were caught with the help of the community in Orlando, Soweto after they were caught red-handed inside the school premises.
He says the other arrests were made in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand.
The Department of Basic Education said it was extremely concerned that 403 schools across the country have been vandalized since the COVID-19 lockdown started.
Minister, Angie Motshekga, said on Friday that the damage caused due to the torching and theft in the schools will have a negative impact on the implementation of the recovery plan once the lockdown is lifted.
She said in all the burglaries learning and teaching equipment had been stolen together with other expensive items.
Mothsekga said the most common target areas in the schools are the administration blocks for Information Communication Technology equipment and the nutrition centres for the food items.
The highest number of cases were in Mpumalanga with 73 burglaries at schools while the Eastern Cape reported 26 cases.
