Theft at Hillside Primary… calls for workers involved to be taught a lesson

While the unemployment rate in the country has been skyrocketing, it is unfortunate that those who have jobs, do not appreciate their privileged status and take advantage of their position, having no qualms to ‘bite the hand that feeds them’.

This follows ongoing complaints of workers stealing from their employers.

In one of the latest incidents, thieves stole food items from the storeroom of a local school in Laudium, last weekend. It was only after coming to school on the Monday morning and realising that a number of items such as a quantity of packs of long life milk and tins of fish were missing from the storeroom, that the management of Hillside Primary School on Himalaya Street decided to check the school’s CCTV footage. Surprisingly, the footage pointed towards two labourers working in the garden, who were seen on the footage entering the storeroom two days earlier at around midday.

While the Acting Principal Motala did not want to comment on the theft, the Laudium Sun spoke to Lucky Mokgethwa, the caretaker from Hillside Primary, who said, “I was not there at the time of the theft from the storeroom. The two guys working in the garden lived on the premises and they took advantage of the situation, as the storeroom was not locked. I believe that they stole a number of items including six packs of long life milk boxes and 10 tins of fish. The theft was only realised two days later while conducting a routine stock count, when it was discovered that the milk and fish tins were missing. This immediately raised concern, as all items are usually accounted for and stored safely within the school premises. Following the discovery, the CCTV footage was checked without delay, which clearly revealed the individuals involved in the incident. The footage showed the gardeners entering the storeroom and taking the items. This came as a shock, as such behaviour was not expected from those working on the premises who were entrusted with responsibilities within the school. This incident of theft has been regarded as extremely shameful and disappointing, as it reflects poorly on the trust and integrity expected from workers employed at the institution. As soon as the CCTV evidence was confirmed, the school took swift action and handed the matter over to the police for further investigation. This decisive action was necessary to ensure accountability and to send a clear message that such misconduct will not be tolerated under any circumstances. I hope that these thieves will be taught a good lesson via the court as to never steal again. The incident has raised serious concerns about security and internal control measures within the school, particularly regarding access to storage areas. It highlights the importance of ensuring that all rooms are properly secured at all times to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Measures are now being considered to strengthen security and prevent any repeat of such behaviour. This is a very unfortunate and embarrassing situation for the school, as it damages the reputation and prestige of the institution. Schools are meant to be places of trust, discipline, and integrity and incidents like this undermine those values. We hope that this type of incident will not occur again and that all staff members will uphold the standards expected of them.”

Megan Padayachee of Himalaya Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard about theft at the Hillside Primary School and it was quite shocking. A school is meant to be a place of learning, discipline and good values, and if incidents of theft are taking place within the school premises, it raises serious concerns about what learners are being exposed to on a daily basis. When such behaviour happens, even if it involves gardeners or any staff members, it creates a negative environment and sends the wrong message to children who are supposed to be guided in the right direction. It is deeply worrying because learners look up to adults within the school environment and any form of wrongdoing by staff can influence them in a harmful way. Schools should be setting an example of honesty and responsibility and incidents like this go completely against those principles. Strong action must be taken against those responsible for the theft to ensure that such behaviour is not tolerated and to protect the integrity of the institution. There is also concern about the safety of the children, as the presence of workers involved in theft within the school premises creates fear and uncertainty. Learners should feel safe and secure at all times while at school and situations when the very same adults working on the school premises go into crime put’s that sense of safety at risk. It is important for the school to take strict measures before hiring labourers to ensure that only trustworthy individuals are allowed within the premises. It is reassuring to know that those involved were arrested, as it shows that the matter was taken seriously by the school management. There is hope that the school will not take them back and will continue to prioritise the safety, values, and reputation of the institution moving forward.”

Jaryd Delport, also of Himalaya Street, told the Laudium Sun, “We often hear about criminals coming from the outside and stealing. But this time it was the guys working in the garden of the school who are implicated in the theft. It is clear that no place in Laudium is safe from criminals. Either the criminals come from outside or there are those who steal from within, stealing from the same place they earn a living from. It seems that criminals are operating everywhere without any hesitation. It has become clear that no place is completely safe anymore, not even institutions like schools that are meant to provide a secure environment for children. The presence of crime in such spaces raises serious concerns about safety and security, not only for learners but also for staff and the surrounding community. There is a growing feeling that criminals are becoming more confident, knowing that they can carry out their actions without facing consequences. The community is being negatively affected with crime and many residents feel that the situation is getting out of control. There is a strong sense of frustration, because it appears that crime pays, as most criminals are getting away easily without any consequences, due to the justice system failing and laws not being enforced.”