The Eastern Cape Department of Education said at least 22 schools in the province were vandalised during the lockdown period.
Department spokesperson, Loyiso Pulumani, said this included five schools in Nelson Mandela Bay, two in Buffalo City Metro and four in the Sarah Baartman District.
He said six schools in the OR Tambo District and five in Amathole West were also vandalised.
Pulumani said that electrical cables were ripped out and carted off, while windows, doors and ceilings were broken at these schools.
Equipment like computers, laptops and printers were also stolen.
He said the Department is “highly perturbed by this wanton destruction of property.”
Pulumani said the National Department had collated all this data and forward a report to the Police Minister.
“We expect that the police will work extra-hard to ensure that these criminals are brought to book,” he said.
He said that the Eastern Cape Education Department was already planning for a post-lockdown environment with one of the things to consider is how to assist schools “blighted by this vandalism.”
(Pic Supplied: De Heuwel Primary School - PE)
