LIMPOPO – The DA in Limpopo acknowledged protesters’ frustrations but say denying learners an opportunity to learn, is a clear violation of learners’ rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
The party’s spokesperson on education and Provincial Leader, Jacques Smalle says there are other ways to show dissatisfaction without infringing on learners’ rights and has urged the MEC for Education, Polly Boshielo to intervene with immediate effect and ensure that these learners go back to school.
This, after 16 schools were affected by unrest in the area due to disgruntled residents from Section A in Giyani barricading roads with burning tyres and rocks.
@phaphamamlfm thisis happening la giyani section A pic.twitter.com/ugloOK5U3c
— mnm holdings and electronics (@mesheckmhlongo) September 12, 2019
Smalle says the unrest stems from action taken by the new contractor that replaced Khato Civils for the Nsami dam project. Residents are accusing the contractor of hiring new people and overlooking those who were already working on the project and as a result, all roads in and out of section A in Giyani and to the only hospital serving Giyani has been closed.
“This is the same incomplete project that saw the tragic and preventable death of the six-year-old Nseko Mhlongo, after he fell into one of the uncovered manholes in the area. Most educators in surrounding villages live in Giyani and this protest has seen them stay at home and learners in the affected area have been told to stay at home by their parents, who fear for the safety of their children to and from school due to the volatile situation,” Smalle said.
He added that the disruption has led to some learners missing their quarterly examinations.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health had to divert ambulances en route to Nkhensani Hospital to Malamulele, Maphutha Malatji, Letaba, Kgapane and Van Velden Hospitals as a result of blocked roads in Giyani Section A.
Smalle concluded by urging Boshielo to engage all her relevant counterparts in government to ensure the issue be resolved with minimum impact and disruption to the academic year.
