The first day of the 2023 academic year was a roaring success in the North West province despite five schools being disrupted by community protests in Welbedacht township near Zeerust in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district on Wednesday, 11 January 2023.

A group of people allegedly protesting for water shortages in the area, disrupted
Ngotoane Secondary, Messega Primary, Babuseng Primary, RB Dithupe Primary
and DP Moloto Special School.

It was further alleged that a group of people made threats to teachers who were at school on Tuesday. Disruption gained momentum on Wednesday with learners being forced out of class at the various schools.

The MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi condemned the disruption at schools in the strongest terms.

“I am taking this time to condemn the disruption of learning and teaching in the area of Welbedacht in its strongest terms. I just cannot understand how adults can go to
school and prevent learners from receiving education.

“Learners are the future of this country and they should be given the chance to get education. The constitution of this country emphasises that every child has a right to
education. Clearly those behind this disruption are violating the right to education”,said MEC Motsumi.

MEC Motsumi urged law enforcement agencies to take action against perpetrators and that the law should take its own course against those individuals who violated the constitution.

MEC Motsumi further engaged with the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Executive Mayor, Councillor Khumalo Molefe to attend to the issue of water in the area.

The department is continuing to make engagements with the South African Police
Services towards the arrest of these individuals.

MEC Motsumi successfully monitored the reopening of schools at Dirang Primary
School in Klipgat near Mabopane and Swartrrugens Intermediate School in
Swartrrugens and was pleased with the teacher and learner attendance.

MEC Motsumi during her monitoring went to the old and vandalized Tirelong Secondary School structures to investigate the background of the school. The learners were relocated to three nearby mega farm schools last year.

 

For more information please contact:
Elias Malindi
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 0721154855/0728928399