You may have heard of Roedean School in Parktown, Jozi, but that was probably to do with the school fees one must cough up to attend.
According to Times LIVE, currently running a story titled “Posh girls’ school reeling after man found skulking in hostel”, those fees are a cool R142 973 a year for Grades 10-12.
Take a deep breath and consider what you’ll be paying in 18 years or so, but let’s get back to the matter at hand.
Parents of pupils at the prestigious school are in shock after news that a 22-year-old man was arrested for breaking into the hostel, with the school alerting parents on Monday:
The school’s executive head, Murray Thomas, confirmed in a statement that no one had been physically harmed and that nothing had been stolen.
“The girls were safely in their rooms throughout the event. A single suspect, who was involved and detected on video, was apprehended and placed in police custody.”
You don’t want some crook creeping around in the building where your daughter sleeps, but the suspect was apprehended so no harm done.
Except there’s been some other criminal activity, too:
Thomas confirmed that there had been several other petty incidents in the past few months where “small quantities of computer equipment were stolen”.
“We are in the process of reviewing these incidents and also the security measures that we have in place.”
So what, that’s all small fry. Hang on…
A parent told Times Select that another parent had been robbed while dropping off his child at the school recently. It is not clear whether the robbery took place inside or outside the school.
Now there’s something for the parents to gossip about over a smoothie at Kauai, dressed head to toe in activewear.
The 22-year-old suspect in the latest incident, Bovhani Ramovha, appeared in court yesterday and was remanded in custody.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi believes that the province’s schools are falling victim to syndicates:
“A theft ring is preying on schools, stealing computers and other electronics. The thieves are not just stealing property, they are stealing our children’s education.”
Some of the province’s posher schools might be able to replace those computers and electronics, but that’s a luxury many schools aren’t blessed with.
Anyway, I guess nobody is safe from some school criminal activity, even if they’re forking out more than R140 000 a year.
[source:timeslive]
