More than 50 000 Vuwani learners return to school
More than 50 000 learners in Vuwani went back to school on Monday as the schools re-opened.
LIMPOPO –Â This after a total shutdown that lasted five weeks where the community demanded that the government implements the resolution that Vhavenda King, Toni Mphephu Ramabulana, and the Limpopo Premier, Stanley Mathabatha, presented to President Jacob Zuma earlier this year.
The resolution stipulated that services would be received from the Vhembe District Municipality rather than the Lim 345 Municipality.
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The total shutdown led to Gr 12 learners missing their preliminary exams.
Pro-Makhado Municipal Task Team Spokesperson, Nsovo Sambo, said the community has put the shutdown on hold to allow learners to write their exams.
Asked if the shutdown will continue after exams, Sambo said they are uncertain about what is likely to happen next.
Department of Education Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said the department was pleased with the suspension of the shutdown.
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Thendo Mulaudzi, a Gr 12 learner who wants to study LLB at the University of Johannesburg next year, said she was delighted that the shutdown was suspended so that they are able to write their final exams.
” I was so worried that we wouldn’t have written our exams if the government didn’t respond, which would mean that some of us have to repeat a year.
“I want to pass well so that I go to university and become a lawyer; I want to help look after my family and help eradicate the poverty we are faced with daily,” she said.
For now, Vuwani will receive services from the provincial government through Vhembe District Municipality.
This is however not sitting well with the communities of Malamulele and Hlanganani as they are claiming that people from Vuwani are receiving special treatment.
“We are disappointed in our provincial government as they are giving people of Vuwani preferential treatment.
“In 2014, 12 schools were burned down in Malamulele but no mobile classes were provided and no renovation has been done, but in Vuwani they received mobile classes and now the government is fixing their classrooms,” said an angry community member who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Provincial Government Spokesperson, Phuti Seloba, said Vuwani receiving services from the provincial government is a temporary solution while the government is devising a more permanent strategy with relevant stakeholders in Vuwani.
