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The Gauteng Department of Community Safety has commended the role of community patrollers following an arrest of a suspect for burglary at Dan Radebe primary school in Duduza, Ekurhuleni. The 29-year-old male was arrested yesterday by a team of patrollers deployed at the school. 

The suspect single handedly pursued his criminality activity and was stopped in his tracks by members of the patroller movement. The school authorities were immediately alerted of the incidence. The suspect had broken the window to gain entrance into a classroom where he was immediately caught. The suspect was handed over to the police and is currently detained at Duduza police station. He is expected to face charges relating to school burglary amongst others.

Schools in the province have in recent times been vandalized and damaged resulting in many expensive equipments such as smart boards and other electronic devices reportedly stolen from their premises. 

“Community patrollers have been very instrumental in assisting the police to deal with criminal elements in our communities. Their active involvement in dealing with crime at a local level is commended. 

Our establishment of the patroller movement is a clear demonstration of our collective commitment to create a conducive and safer learning environment in our schools,” said Ofentse Morwane, departmental spokesperson. The department urges the community to work together with the school authorities in exposing and reporting all criminals who continue to destroy the school infrastructure in the province.

Issued by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety