As schools across the Western Cape close for the winter break, Provincial Education Minister David Maynier has appealed to residents living in schooling precincts to remain vigilant and help protect schools from burglary and vandalism during the holiday.

Most schools will be vacant for the next three weeks.

Highlighting the increased risk of crime during school closures, Maynier stressed the importance of community involvement.

“As always, we appeal to communities to keep a close eye on their local schools during the holiday period, when they are at greatest risk of burglary and vandalism,” he said.

Over the 2024/25 summer school break, the Provincial Education Department noted an increase in incidents of burglary and vandalism. 47 incidents of burglary or vandalism at 34 schools were recorded during that time, compared to the 26 incidents at 24 schools in the previous year. Stolen or damaged items included electrical fittings, appliances, food, bathroom fixtures, and security equipment.

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Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity near schools to the South African Police Service (SAPS) or the Safe Schools hotline at 0800 45 46 47.

“Your quick reporting can make all the difference in apprehending perpetrators and retrieving stolen goods,” Maynier concluded.

Some schools may be a little occupied this winter break, as some learners and teachers return for the #BackOnTrack programme.

“A special thank you to our matrics and the teachers who will be sacrificing part of their holiday to attend #BackOnTrack lessons and training, in order to improve learning outcomes and prepare for the final exams at the end of the year,” said Maynier.

Nonetheless, Maynier has wished teachers and learners a good time off.

“As schools close for the winter break, we wish all of our learners, teachers and school staff members a safe and peaceful holiday after a very busy term,” said Maynier.