Determined to find Greenville Primary School’s stolen chalkboards, outraged residents led by activist Christian Martin followed several leads, including an open field, a caravan and a tavern, but hit a dead end on Wednesday.
The hunt for the crucial learning aids was not entirely in vain though — it helped galvanise people to unite and pledge to safeguard the under-resourced Bethelsdorp school from further criminality.
Plans are now also afoot to buy chalk paint for the walls to replace the boards, and to take steps to ward off any further thefts.
The neighbouring community has made it their mission to track down those responsible for the theft of almost 30 chalkboards from Greenville Primary over the long weekend.
The chalkboards were the school’s main means of educating pupils because it does not have the funds for printers and paper.
The theft left teachers scrambling to find alternative means for learning to continue on Tuesday and Wednesday.
While members of the Bethelsdorp police were at the school on Wednesday to take statements after principal Frederick Joseph reported a criminal complaint, residents rallied behind the teaching staff and vowed to get the chalkboards back, or find those behind the thefts.
Martin and community leader Gaby Machune, along with residents who had kept their ears to the ground, believed they were hot on the culprits’ trail on Wednesday.
On Tuesday evening, they had been informed that the missing chalkboards had been taken to a nearby informal settlement.
While the searchers were on the way, they were told the boards had been hidden in a bushy area near the school while the thieves lined up a prospective buyer.
“A local tavern owner was approached, but he denied any involvement.
“From there, we put out word to all tavern owners and scrap metal dealers in the area,” Martin said.
“Because word has spread that the community is hell-bent on finding the chalkboards, it would seem that nobody wants to buy the stolen goods.”
Martin and Machune also visited several scrap metal dealers to alert them to what had happened.
They then devised a plan to convene a meeting involving the community, scrap metal shop owners, the police, principals and teaching staff at Greenville and other schools in the area.
The goal is to get a memorandum of understanding drawn up with scrap metal dealers, who would commit to not buy anything that appears to have been stolen from a school.
Joseph said his staff had met to gather ideas because the school did not have the money to replenish the photocopier with ink, and did not have enough paper.
There is no electricity supply to its classrooms, which eliminates the use of projectors.
Joseph said a suggestion had been made that the walls where the chalkboards used to hang be painted with chalk paint to allow teachers to continue using chalk in their lessons.
For this to be done, the school would require the paint to be donated.
Parents have committed to roll up their sleeves to paint the walls.
“Another suggestion was that we touch base with security firms who train security officers.
“They could perhaps allow newly trained guards to do some form of internship training at schools.
“Many ideas were discussed.
“The teaching staff remain committed to providing pupils with a quality education despite all of the difficulties,” Joseph said.
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