Security beefed up at Schweizer-Reneke school

Security has been beefed up at Laereskool Schweizer-Reneke school on Monday and the school’s governing body said measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of its students reportedly confirmed by the governing body’s chairperson, Jozeph du Plessis.

The details of the measures in place were not disclosed, although a number of armed security companies are stationed at the school.

North West department of education spokesperson Freddy Sepeng said security companies were not allowed on the school’s premises without the department’s permission.

Some parents were seen collecting their children from the school.

Investigations continue as the government probes why a Grade R class of children were separated according to race at the North West school.

The teacher of the class, Elana Barkhuizen, has been suspended and was reported to have left town.

Barkhuizen sent the picture to parents in a WhatsApp group showing them that the children were settled well on their first day at school.

She was suspended to allow for the investigation to proceed unhindered.

The photo showing the small group of black children sitting at a separate table away from white children went viral on social media.

This led to the North West department of education launching an investigation into the alleged racism at the school.

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