More suspects linked to school break-ins arrested

The Gauteng Education Department has welcomed the arrest of more suspects linked to school break-ins in the province.

In a statement the department revealed that they were alerted by the South African Police Services on Thursday, 16 April 2020, about the arrest of two suspects found in possession of property linked to school break-ins in Katlehong.

Two other suspects were nabbed on Tuesday, 15 April 2020, after they were also found in possession of suspected stolen property believed to have been taken from the Botebotsebo Secondary School in Zone 14, Sebokeng.

A third suspect was arrested inside the school premises after he had set a classroom on fire in which tiles and chairs were burned.

Earlier in the week, the Education Department announced that forty one (41) suspects had been arrested for cases relating to the burglaries and burning of schools in Gauteng since March 2020.

MEC Panyaza Lesufi has expressed his gratitude to the police for their swift action.

“Indeed, we are delighted and indebted to the police for the sterling work in arresting these recalcitrants, who are persistent in disregarding regulations enforced during this critical moment of the lockdown. We don’t understand where they find time to commit these crimes because everyone should be at home ” said Lesufi.

More than 65 schools across the country have fallen victim to burglaries and vandalism since the start of the nationwide lockdown on 27 March 2020.