…By Roland Peterson for TDPel Media.
Taylors Halt, a suburb in Pietermaritzburg, recently experienced a night of robberies targeting four local schools.
These incidents occurred amidst the backdrop of a separate tragedy where eight individuals were burned alive earlier in the week.
Demand for Government Action to Safeguard Taylors Halt Schools
Zinhle Ngubo, a DA Councillor in Msunduzi, expressed growing concerns about Taylors Halt’s transformation into a crime hotspot, rendering it unsafe for vulnerable residents.
Ngubo called upon Sipho Hlomuka, the provincial safety MEC, and Mbali Frazier, the education MEC, to prioritize the implementation of enhanced security measures in the area and its schools.
Police Absence and Incidents of Crime
Ngubo highlighted an incident where school principals reported a serious crime to the Taylors Halt police station, only to be informed that the police were unavailable as they were attending the funeral of a colleague.
This incident adds to the list of unresolved cases in the area.
Last month, four schools were targeted by suspects, resulting in stolen equipment.
Additionally, Grade 11 and 12 learners from Zuzulwazi Secondary School were robbed at gunpoint, and a schoolgirl was stabbed, causing her to fear for her safety and refuse to return to school.
Urgent Need for Government Support
The DA Councillor emphasized that the police have failed to follow up on these cases, leading to a sense of insecurity at Zuzulwazi Secondary School, renowned for its excellent matric results.
In light of these circumstances, Ngubo urged the Department of Education to take immediate action by deploying security personnel to ensure the safety of students and teachers in the affected schools.