Criminals target Jouberton creche

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Toddlers at Thabong Creche 1 in Jouberton one of only a handful of day care centres available in the area

Thabong Crèche 1 in Jouberton has been left without electricity after criminals ransacked the crèche – one of few in the area. According to staff, criminals removed power cables supply in the building after previously looting cables and groceries from the day care.

Staff blames criminals and alleged drug users whom they suspect operate out of the neighbouring abandoned building, which is owned by the City of Matlosana Municipality.

Bukelwa Galane lives close to the abandoned building and said that she has heard screams coming from the building at night.

Another resident of the area Gadifele Tlhotlhomisang said the building had also been blamed for a spate of muggings in the area.

“There are a lot of muggings on this street,” Tlhotlhomisang told OurHealth. “The criminals hide out in the abandoned building. At night people are afraid to walk on this street.”

“One morning we saw a lot of blood on the road (and) it looked like a person was stabbed,” Tlhotlhomisang added.

City of Matlosana Municipality Spokesperson Ntswaki Makgetha did not respond to requests for comment regarding the status of the building.

In the meantime, crèche manager Dikeledi Ngisi said she has paid almost R2,000 to keep the crèche going amid the power cut and restore power.

The crèche’s principal Adele Joya said that she did not reported the most recent cable theft to police because she alleges police in the past have done nothing to prevent the criminal activities.

Paulina Finger of the South African Police Services in Jouberton said that no cases have been reported regarding the abandoned building.