Four jailed for 35 years as KZN schools battle theft and vandalism

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has lost more than R14 million to theft and vandalism at schools over the past three years, as criminals increasingly target technology intended to modernise classrooms and expand digital learning.

The scale of the problem was highlighted as four men were sentenced to an effective 35 years in prison for a series of violent school robberies — a sentence welcomed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as a strong deterrent to criminals targeting schools.

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The Pinetown Regional Court last Friday sentenced Mthobisi Shozi (21), Brian Tyrone Charles (25), Sbonelo Mkhulisi (24) and Lebohang Magwaza (24) to an effective 35 years’ direct imprisonment after convicting them on multiple counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and attempted robbery.

KwaZulu-Natal NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the men targeted three schools in February 2023 by posing as donors.

Evidence presented before the court revealed that the accused visited three schools under the pretext of intending to make donations. Once granted access to the school premises, they threatened staff members with firearms and robbed them of cellphones and laptops. In one incident, a learner was robbed as well. The accused fled the scene after committing the offences.

Ramkisson-Kara said prosecutor Rowen Bevin Souls led evidence from the complainants and the arresting officer, while several identity parades resulted in the accused being positively identified.

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A victim impact statement compiled by one of the school principals revealed that teachers, pupils and support staff suffered significant trauma following the robberies and required counselling.

“The NPA welcomes the sentences and hopes they will serve as a strong deterrent to like-minded offenders. Schools are vital institutions within our communities and must remain safe environments where teaching and learning can take place without fear, intimidation, or criminal interference,” Ramkisson-Kara said.

The sentences come as Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka warned that escalating crime at schools was threatening the safety of teachers and pupils while directly undermining the province’s investment in technology and digital education.

Tabling the department’s R71,19 billion budget in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Hlomuka revealed that thieves had stolen at least 84 laptops, 501 tablets, 127 data projectors and seven smart screens from schools over the past three years, representing an estimated loss of R14 million.

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The rise in safety concerns within our schools is a matter of serious concern that demands urgent and collective action. We are particularly concerned about the safety of our teachers in areas where they are being targeted for armed robbery.

“Criminals are also targeting equipment that is meant to empower pupils.”

The latest incident occurred at Isibongo Primary School in Mpophomeni, where thieves have repeatedly targeted the school in recent weeks.

Criminals stripped copper infrastructure, leaving parts of the school without electricity.

Hlomuka said crime, vandalism and other forms of misconduct were making schools increasingly unsafe.

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“Safety in schools is our responsibility as the department and the communities within which the schools exist. Acts of violence, theft of school property, drug use and other ill behaviour are making the schools not a safe environment,” he said, adding that the department was continuing to implement the National School Safety Framework.

The thefts come as the department seeks to accelerate its digital transformation programme, with Hlomuka identifying the development of a “resilient and future-ready education system” as one of the three main pillars of the 2026/27 budget.

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The department plans to expand digital learning through the provision of devices, internet connectivity and digital educational content.

“As we navigate the demands of the 21st century, we are not just preparing our pupils for exams, we are preparing them for life. This includes equipping them with critical thinking skills, digital competencies and an appreciation for innovation,” Hlomuka said.

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“To this end, the budget provides for the expansion of digital learning initiatives, including the provision of devices, connectivity, and digital content.”

The department is also seeking to improve teachers’ digital skills through professional development programmes, with the budget placing particular emphasis on “enhancing digital literacy among educators”.

Digital technology also forms part of the department’s expansion of specialised education.

The upgraded Mbuso Kubheka ICT, Engineering and Technology School of Excellence in Amajuba opened in January, with the department saying specialised schools were intended to equip pupils with technical and vocational skills aligned with the needs of the economy.

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The digital drive extends to early childhood development, where the department is introducing eCares, an electronic ECD data administration and reporting system that will be used to monitor programmes and curriculum initiatives.

However, Hlomuka warned that the continued theft and destruction of equipment threatened to erode these investments and deprive pupils of resources intended to improve their education.

Schools must remain safe havens for teaching and learning, yet incidents of violence, vandalism, substance abuse and other forms of misconduct threaten to undermine this fundamental purpose.

The department said it was strengthening implementation of the National School Safety Framework and working with police, communities and school governing bodies.

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Following the renewal of the school safety protocol between the Department of Basic Education and SAPS, joint safety-awareness campaigns and search-and-seizure operations are being conducted. National School Safety Framework workshops have also been conducted at 5 873 schools.

“The safety of our pupils and educators is non-negotiable,” Hlomuka said.