Vandalism, dumping, and safety concerns are amongst the issues concerning the area around Bet-el School that were recently brought to TygerBurger’s attention.
In July 2020 hostel block A at Bet-el School was badly damaged when it was petrol bombed.
At the time there was protest action (presumably about land claims) in the adjacent Kalkfontein.
Most of what was left of the building it seems has sinced been carried away.
According to the provincial education department there are currently 410 learners enrolled at Bet-el but learners are no longer accommodated on the terrain.
Education department spokesperson Millicent Merton says the hostel was closed in 2020 for safety and security reasons.
“The hostel building was damaged after a fire and subsequent incidents of vandalism and theft.”
Merton did not acknowledge whether the department has received any complaints from learners or staff members with regards to safety, but says the school reports incidents of vandalism to the department on a regular basis.
Asked if the department is doing anything to address vandalism and security at the school, she says “the department is currently replacing the fence at the school. The school employs a security company and staff at the school man the gate.”
Meetings
Ward 19 councillor Ebrahim Sawant said he and other council officials have had a number of meetings with Bet-el School’s principal and staff members where several concerns were raised.
Sawant says among the concerns were ‘’the high crime rate in the greater Kalkfontein area and its impact on the school, overgrown bushes around the school and irregular dumping that make learners a target for elements.’’
Sawant says the school reported that the streetlights were targeted regularly and vandalised. “This led to robberies and other crime in the area.”
The road leading to the school which used to be in a terrible condition was tarred last year. Sawant says the school insisted the road ‘’must be tarred by the council (City) as it was damaged when large council vehicles were using this stretch of land to get access to Kalkfontein.”
Sawant says there was agreement that the different (City) departments such as roads, electricity and cleaning services be tasked to investigate all of the complaints and prioritise it.
TygerBurger was told by a community member of a request that the City’s law enforcement and metro police should assist Kuils River police with patrols to help prevent crime in the vicinity of Bet-el School especially in the mornings (before) and afternoons after school.
There are footpaths used by learners (of various schools) coming from areas on the other side of Stellenbosch Arterial such as Wesbank and Delft but also learners walking to and from Kalkfontein.
In response to a recent enquiry from TygerBurger (on 13 March) station commander of Kuils River police, Col Jayce Naidoo, said the area is being policed by extra patrols and being monitored daily.
“Since December 2022 up to today (13 March) two cases have been reported of crime at the school and surrounding the school area.
Naidoo said community members must please report crime at Kuils River police.
“There is currently engagement with the City of Cape Town to improve the road and the lighting in this area that will lead to a safer area and also better access for law enforcement agencies and prevention in the future,” said Naidoo.
Sawant says he and Naidoo both proposed closer cooperation between the police and City law enforcement to address crime in the greater Kalkfontein area. “Since then the Kalkfontein community is used as a joint operation centre. This also led to greater police visibility,” says Sawant.
When TygerBurger was in the area last week it was evident that some of the recent dumping along the road leading to the school had been removed.
“There are regular clean-ups done now but dumping remains a huge challenge all over the city,” says Sawant.
He says lights also remain a target for criminals and vandals.
Regarding a request that was made through the ward committee that spotlights be put up – possibly at a cell tower – Sawant says this is not possible as the City is not allowed to erect it on private property. “Not all the land that surrounds the school belongs to the City,” says Sawant.
