Robbers ransack primary school children

A group of children from a primary school in Centurion, had a harrowing experience in Hazyview in Mpumalanga in the early hours of this morning ... Three robbers - dressed in balaclava's and camo clothing, robbed the teachers and children between the ages of 10 and 13 from Laerskool Hennopspark.

 

Around 80 children and their teachers were sleeping in five-bed bungalo's at the "Aan de Vliet" camp site. The robbers held up a teacher with a shot gun and two pistols, forcing him to go from door-to-door between 1 and 2am this morning, where they ransacked the children's luggage and raided their fridges. They ordered the children to hand over cellphones. No one was hurt. 

 

One of the boys in the group, phoned the Vodacom helpline from a cell phone and police were on the scene within 10 minutes. 

 

One of the children, who shared a bungalo with four other girls aged between 10 and 11, says their teacher pleaded with the robbers "not to hurt the girls", as they went through their suitcases and bags. She says the one robber sat in their room, counting a cash and asking them "I hope you can forgive me". He also raided their fridge. 

 

After the robbers made off with their loot of cell phones, cash, music equipment and jewellery, the teachers gathered all the children in the hall on the grounds, where they were debriefed and police gathered statements. 

 

The group arrived in Hazyview yesterday afternoon and would have performed gospel songs at old age homes, schools and churches in Nelspruit, Skukuza and Hazyview until Sunday. The "Ainos" group is the school's gospel singing group.

 

The children and teachers are on their way back from Hazyview to Centurion - where they will be met by councillors and parents at the school this afternoon. 

 

The Hennopspark Laerskool Principal, Jannie Raath says they are all still very emotional, but at this point he doubts that he will allow school tours in future, as the children's safety is in jeopardy. Raath says the school insisted on extra security at the camp site before giving the go-ahead for the tour. 

 

A meeting has been arranged for parents at the school this morning, where they will be informed and briefed.  

 

Police captain, Leonard Hlathi says they are following up leads, but no one has yet been arrested. Anyone with information is asked to call the investigating officer, captain Albert Manzini on 082-449-0231.