Criminals have targeted two Bonteheuwel in the past two weeks, and while it ended well for the one school, the perpetrator of the other incident is still at large.
Bonteheuwel High School was broken into on Friday September 9 and computers, marching-band and sports equipment, as well as sanitary pads, among others, were stolen.
According to Bishop Lavis police spokeswoman Sergeant Samantha Adonis, the police received anonymous tip-offs about the whereabouts of the stolen items and immediately followed up, leading to the arrest of a 31-year-old man on Sunday September 11.
Ward councillor Angus McKenzie commended the informants and the quick reaction of the police.
Meanwhile, Tamsin October, the founder of Bridgehouse, a non-profit company, dropped off 250 packs of sanitary pads at the school. The pads were donated by a tyre-fitment company.
Barely a week later, on Thursday September 15, a teacher at Arcadia Primary School was stabbed and robbed of her cellphone in the presence of her pupils.
According to Sergeant Adonis, the perpetrator jumped over the school fence and entered the teacher’s classroom while she was busy teaching.
“The teacher was writing something on the board, and without warning, the perpetrator stabbed her in the shoulder, and then asked for her cellphone. She felt faint and fell on the floor. Before she could even answer him, he noticed her cellphone on her desk, took it and ran away. No arrests have been made,” Sergeant Adonis said.
Western Cape Education Department spokeswoman Bronagh Hammond said: “The perpetrator allegedly jumped over a high-wired and spiked perimeter fence. Thankfully, the wounds are not serious. However, such an incident is extremely traumatic for the teacher, learners and the entire school community.”