SOUTH AFRICA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=vn20060525022550722C593770

Pupils and teachers of the Lesedi Secondary School in Boschkop walked into empty classrooms this week after at least 25 of the school's sponsoredcomputers were stolen.

The increasing crime in the area has affected local schools and is becoming a big problem for the first secondary school in the area, which opened in 2003.

School principal Laurenz van der Westhuizen says the crime wave in this poverty-stricken area is affecting the children's education.

"It is traumatic for us to have come to school to teach children - only to find holes in the ceilings and broken burglar doors and gates.

"The unfortunate thing is that the children are the ones who lose out. This is their school where they receive an education to better their lives. And now the community is taking that away from them."

It appears the thieves broke into the school at the weekend.

The school fences were bent and the criminals apparently made their way into the classrooms and offices through the aluminium-enhanced roof - making holes in the ceiling to gain entry.

Then they unhinged the security gates in the offices, gaining access to an entire block of classrooms where computers were kept.

The school, which educates 592 pupils, is situated in a rural area. It accommodates pupils from Mamelodi, Boschkop and Donkerhoek.

Van der Westhuizen said he noticed while driving to school on Monday that there were pieces of computer equipment scattered on the road, and even on the N4 highway.

"We depend on our sponsors to help us educate the children. We ensured that there were security measures in place to keep all the equipment safe, but these criminals still found their way through into the classrooms.

"It is sad to think that these people do not care about the education and future of children in this country," said Van der Westhuizen.

Aron Mashigo, chairperson of the school governing body, was upset when he heard of the break-in.

Claiming that people were "ruthless" and "inconsiderate" about the children's well-being and education, Mashigo said they were destroying the nation.

"These children come from impoverished families. This school is all they have to break the cycle of poverty within the community.

"And now we are having setbacks in giving them a better life, due to ruthless criminals who do not care about their future. They must bring back thecomputers," said Mashigo.