Burglary suspects that stole learning material at the Gonyane Primary School in Bloemfontein also attempted to torch the administration block and the hall. The thieves used petrol bombs in the event of succeeding to steal learning material stored in the school hall.
Two petrol bombs used did not explode, preventing the eruption of a fire that would have resulted in extensive damage to both the administration block and hall where learning material was temporarily stored for distribution amongst learners on the start of the new school term.
Police members remain on the school premises since the burglary and attempted arson on Friday night, 6 January.
Three of the five culprits arrested regarding the crime incident are remanded in custody while the remaining two, foreign national tuck shop owners, were released. This is after they briefly appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 9 January.
The trio in custody are Itumeleng Mohale (21), Kamohelo Mohutsioa (21) and Lefa Maduna (22). They are expected to reappear in court on 16 January to apply for bail. They face charges of break-in and theft.
Different learning materials recovered after the burglary at the school range from books to rulers, rubbers, pens, pencils and sharpeners. The estimated value of these items is R300 000.
MEC for Education, Tate Makgoe, visited the school today as part of the back-to-school campaign that marks the start of the 2023 academic year in the Free State. The objective of the visit was to ensure stability after departmental intervention and aid in distributing learning material by donors following the burglary. Makgoe is confident that learning and teaching will progress as planned, while the police continue with their investigation into the crime at the school.
