Outrage as laptops stolen from school's newly established cyberlab

IOL News

15-05-2025

Laptops were stolen during a break-in at the Sibongumbomvu Combined School in Ward 6 of the uMngeni Municipality. .
Image: uMngeni Local Municipality/X
A rural school in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands was robbed of laptops in its newly donated cyberlab.
In a joint statement, DA Mooi Umngeni Constituency head Edwin Macrae Bath and DA KZN education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi expressed outrage over the break-in at Sibongumbomvu Combined School in Ward 6 of the uMngeni Municipality.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, weeks after a brand-new cyberlab was handed over to the school by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies on April 15.
Suspects stole 20 donated laptops, the school's IT equipment and they damaged infrastructure.
'This cyberlab was not just a room filled with machines—it was a bridge between rural learners and the digital future,' the statement read.
'Initial evidence suggests the crime was carried out by individuals with inside knowledge of the school's layout and security measures. It was targeted and calculated—a strategic hit against progress in one of our province's most under-resourced communities.'
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[WATCH]: It's official! The opening is underway by Minister @SollyMalatsi, joined by Mr Dabie Francis, Principal of Sibongumbomvu Combined School, who unveiled the plaque and officially opened the brand-new Coding & Robotics Lab in Howick. pic.twitter.com/Z8swWL2IVL — Dept of Communications & Digital Technologies (@CommsZA) April 15, 2025
The statement also revealed that police had not arrived at the scene by the time of the statement, which was distributed Wednesday morning.
'This delay is disgraceful, and it sends a chilling message that rural communities can be violated without response,' the statement read.
In a letter, the DA requested KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to immediately deploy a dedicated task team to investigate the incident, demanding a clear timeline for arrests and public updates.
The letter to Mkhwanazi said there has been a concerning delay in response from the police service. The incident appears planned and not opportunistic, possibly indicating an inside link. Prompt deployment of senior investigators is urgently requested to apprehend those responsible and send a strong message against targeting children's education. Increased police visibility and community engagement in rural schools are also crucial to prevent future incidents.
On April 15, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi launched a Cyberlab and Robotics Lab in uMngeni with Software AG SA and uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas.
Image: Solly Malatsi/X
Then, in parliamentary questions to the KZN Department of Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, the party demanded accountability on the incident.
Hlomuka was asked to provide details on: existing security infrastructure; prior risk assessments for the cyberlab handover; current security measures for high-value digital infrastructure in rural and township schools; the number of KZN schools receiving coding and robotics infrastructure since January 2023, and subsequent theft/vandalism incidents; immediate plans to replace stolen equipment; allocation of emergency funding for repairs; investigation into potential insider involvement; and collaboration plans with SAPS for high-risk school security.
'This is more than just a stolen resource. It is a stolen future.
'The DA calls on the community to speak up—do not protect those who steal from your children. Report them. Help ensure they face justice. If these criminals are allowed to walk free, the message is clear: rural learners don't matter,' the statement read.
'This tragedy reinforces the urgent need for a whole-of-society approach that the DA continues to advocate for—where government, communities, civil society, and law enforcement work together to protect and uplift our schools. Ensuring the safety and success of learners cannot rest on the shoulders of the state alone. It requires shared responsibility, active citizen involvement, and strong partnerships to create schools that are centres of hope, not targets of crime.'
With only three days of training, the pupils had grasped coding and robotics. They demonstrated this to Communications and Technological Minister Solly Malatsi and uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas.
Image: uMngeni Local Municipality/X
The public is requested to contact Detective Branch Commander Warrant Officer Sindane at 033 845 6526 with any information relevant to ongoing investigations.
In a separate incident, KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said Hilton police are investigating a business burglary case after suspects reportedly broke into a school in Hilton between May 13 and 14.
'Reports indicate that laptops, cellphones, router, TV, and other items were stolen,' Magwaza said.
'The matter is still under investigation.'
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