Velabahleke High School at Umlazi H section has fallen prey to criminals. This morning the school Principal (Mr Mbongeni Mtshali) was robbed at gunpoint by unknown men moments after entering inside the school premises.
The robbers went off with an undisclosed amount of cash that the principal was going to use to pay wages/salaries for staff members employed by the school governing body (SGB).
The robbers also took a cell phone belonging to another staff member who was with the school Principal when the incident occurred. They also took other personal items from the school principal (i.e. wallet). The learners and teachers were inside the classrooms when the incident occurred. Teaching and learning was not disrupted. The incident has been reported to the police.
The MEC for Education Mr Senzo Mchunu has strongly condemned this incident, “This unfortunate incident happened at a very critical time when learners are writing their final examinations and Velabahleke is one of our top performing schools. It concerns us that schools are increasingly becoming soft targets for criminals, but we remain confident that the police will speed up the investigation and apprehend the criminals,” said Mchunu.
He added, “Schools are there to provide a safe environment for teaching and learning to take place and our plea if for anyone who may have any information which may lead to the arrest of these perpetrators to contact the police,” said the MEC.
In a separate incident burglars stole 12 computers and stationery at Mzwamandla Secondary School in Umlazi earlier this week.
For more information contact:
Mbali Thusi
Cell: 082 881 7484
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Education
