Premier Mabuza lashes out at Marite parents

MARITE – Premier David Mabuza lashed out at the parents of two schools in the area for interrupting school attendance for the past two months, in demand of tarred roads.

Mabuza held two separate meetings yesterday where he instructed all learners and teachers to return to school as from today stating that it would be safe for them to go back to school as the police would be deployed throughout Bushbuckridge to ensure that no child is stopped from going to school.

He also urged parents to be responsible and allow children to go to school, saying the police would deal with those who intimidated the learners and the teachers. He said some few suspects had been arrested after they were found in possession of the computers stolen from the schools.

“Schools will re-open and we will not run away from our schools because of criminals. This country will never be for criminals. Let us allow our children to go to schools, it is their right to do so, parents should not stand in their way of their children from getting education,” he said angrily.

Mabuza further explained that the provincial government would prioritise the revamping of the schools than the tarred road which would only be built next year, as it was not budgeted for. He added that the revamping would continue while learning and teaching was taking place, as too much time had already been lost due to protests.

“We have too many needs, yet our resources are limited, therefore we must utilise them sparingly. It is unheard of that parents would deny their children a good future, by stopping them from accessing education because they are demanding the tarred roads.

“These children are the future of our country, we must do anything possible to help them get educated. That is why as a government we are even paying for their education. I have heard your complaints, the tarred road will only be built next year, therefore do not stop our children from going to school,” ended Mabuza.