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Theft and vandalism of school assets across Gauteng has cost the Gauteng Department of Education in excess of R5.6 million since 2014.

Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, has indicated in response to a DA question in the Gauteng Legislature, that since he has taken over the reins of the department there have been 412 reported incidents of theft and vandalism and break-ins at schools across the province.

The most notable items that have been stolen in Gauteng’s schools are:

• Computers: 281;
• Tablets: 404; and
• Laptops: 90

The Johannesburg Central district experienced the highest number of incidents, accounting for a quarter of the total figure at 127.

Although the MEC has indicated that these instances have been reported to the SAPS, the department has no records of insurance taken out in the event that theft and vandalism takes place - stating that this is the competency of individual schools.

Given that ICT equipment has been introduced to schools to improve educational outcomes, it would appear that the preventative measures put in place by the department have not been adequate enough.

MEC Lesufi must ensure that ICT devices are fitted with tracking and security software to ensure that they are retrievable in the event that they are stolen, and that these items are better stored to prevent their theft in the first place.

Given that the department went to great lengths to equip schools with this infrastructure, it is quite alarming that it appears to be so lax when it comes to retrieving stolen goods and keeping an eye on school insurance policies.

The DA will write to MEC Lesufi to ascertain how many of these devices have been recovered and how many insurance claims have been processed for these stolen goods.

Issued by DA