One more Vuwani school torched this week

Amidst a host of ministerial visitors, traditional leaders, community members and learners pleading for peace and calm and the right to go back to school, yet another primary school in the Masakona near Vuwani, Mawela Primary School in Sereni Village, was burnt down Monday night
The number of schools burnt down in Vuwani now stands at twenty-seven, 11 high schools and 16 primary schools. This is according to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Coghta) Minister Des van Rooyen who addressed a press conference at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort on Tuesday.
Van Rooyen was accompanied by the Minister of Communication, Faith Muthambi and the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) Makoma Makhurupetje and members of a committee chosen by government to engage with groupings in the Vuwani area.
“The protest and shutdown disrupted learning and teaching with 52 827 learners affected in the whole area, of which 2 600 are matriculants,” he said. He said it might be that some of the people involved in violent protests’ children might indeed be attending schooling in urban areas, like Polokwane and as such they don’t feel the pain being felt by many parents whose children are sitting home not attending school.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) was formed following violent protest in the area, working with the provincial government and set about to bring stability to the area. It comprisises five national IMC members, Makhurupetje, who is also convener of the Task Team, acting Director-General in the Office of the Premier Nape Nchabeleng, acting Coghsta Head of Department Godfrey Makoko, the Executive Manager responsible for Back to Basics Program in the Department of Cooperative Governance, Mpho Mogale and representatives of traditional leaders or traditional leaders who are directly affected and those who are affected by the demarcation and violence in the areas.
They urged all communities, traditional leaders and the education sector in Vuwani and surrounding areas to ensure unity and confront the demon of tribalism and ethnicity seen in the area.
Van Rooyen informed the media what work has so far been done at Vuwani and said a preliminary report of total damages was expected shortly, except for the 76 mobile classrooms that were procured at a cost of R22,4 million.
He mentioned that even health services were affected by tribalism as nurses in both the Masakona and the Marseilles clinics were chased out by some protesting community members as the result of tribalism. Clinic committees and traditional leaders made it clear that this action was not acceptable.
He said that Social Workers are providing counseling to families in three affected areas, Davhana/Tshimbupfe, Njhakanjhaka and Masakona and will also conduct mass counseling to educators and school children. Social relief of distress services (food parcels, blankets) has been provided to affected families in the area.
The area was declared a local disaster area and emergency funding was released for immediate requirements. The province has since reprioritised funding to ensure dealing with key areas requiring urgent attention.
Among the 30 suspects arrested and awaiting bail is a local councillor and a teacher.

Story: NELIE ERASMUS
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