“How do you steal an entire school?” That is a question worth pondering as we stand here. This is the story of Uitzig Secondary School in Cape Town. It is a story of loss and community. It is a stark reminder of the challenges many schools face.
Uitzig Secondary School met a devastating end. Once a beacon of hope, it was reduced to its foundation in just six months. The school’s demise began after it was declared structurally unsafe in 2019. Gangsterism and vandalism plagued it. The Department of Education ordered its closure. What followed was shocking.
Thieves systematically dismantled Uitzig Secondary School. They stole everything from building materials to plumbing and electrics. Even the furniture was taken. Brick by brick, the school vanished. The community believes drug addicts were responsible. They sold the materials to feed their addictions.
The Daily Mail reported the school used to have a grand entrance. It also had a reception area, five classroom blocks, and two toilet areas. A former caretaker spoke of constant vandalism. Pupils became scared. The school became run-down.
The caretaker said the thieves moved in the day after the school closed. They stole the school brick by brick and window by window. Nothing was left except the concrete floors. Now, it is a derelict open space.
Locals claim the windows were sold for approximately Rs 450 each. The bricks went for Rs 2.25 each. A Google Earth photo shows the school before its demise. A later photo shows only the concrete classroom floors remain.
Former pupil Lorna Balata-Peters confirmed the school was stripped to its foundations. Everything inside was gone too. Street cleaner John Isaacs said drugs destroyed the school. Drug addicts stole the school bit by bit. They sold all the materials for money to buy drugs.
Western Cape Education Department spokesman Bronagh Hammond said gangsterism and vandalism doomed the school. They provided security guards and barbed wire. But the gangs and vandals kept coming. It was too dangerous for pupils and teachers.
The department decided to close Uitzig. The community members came in and stole everything that was left. This serves as a reminder of the importance of community support. It shows what happens when schools are left vulnerable. Uitzig Secondary School may be gone. Its story continues to resonate.