Five rural village schools near Libode remained closed yesterday, a week after angry residents forced almost 1500 schoolchildren out of class.
The Daily Dispatch reported last week that teaching had been disrupted in Zanokhanyo, Pondomiseni, Dokodela and Mtyu Junior Secondary schools and Gcinizizwe Senior Primary after group of angry villagers from ward 15 in Nyandeni local municipality had chased staff and pupils out of the schools.
They wanted the immediate removal of ANC ward councillor candidate Thembalethu Macingwane in favour of independent candidate Albert Sebenzile Sixabela.
This was despite the fact that the latter had lost against Macingwane during the recent local government elections.
While the protesters, some of whom claimed to be disgruntled ANC members in the ward, could not be reached for comment, Gcinizizwe principal Philiswa Maqokolo yesterday confirmed that they hadn’t re-opened the schools since they were told to close them down.
She said they were getting worried because pupils should be busy preparing for their September trial exams.
“We don’t know what to do with this, really,” she said.
Dokodela principal Ndumiso Mthobela said they had tried to speak to protesters yesterday but were told the schools would only reopen once the impasse had been resolved.
But an angry ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane yesterday lambasted the protesting adults for playing with the futures of the youths.
“We cannot allow anarchy. The future of our children cannot be linked to their political dissatisfaction. That is not acceptable,” he said, adding the ANC had committed to attend to all “legitimate” cases.
“That does not justify going around burning down things and closing schools.”
Mabuyane called on police to play their role by ensuring that people did not vandalise property when they felt aggrieved.
Last week, one of the leaders of the protest in Ward 15, Samkeo Mpalweni, told the Daily Dispatch that Sixabela, a former ANC branch secretary who had resigned before the IEC announced the election candidate list, had been begged to register as an independent candidate by the residents of the ward.
He said Macingwane had been imposed on them by party regional chairman Xolile Nkompela.
However, Macingwane said he had triumphed over Sixabela during the ward candidate nomination process which prompted the latter to resign.
Sixabela said he had nothing to do with the ongoing protest as it was the community that did not want Macingwane.
Nkompela declined to comment when approached.
Provincial education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said it was disconcerting that parents were behind the closure of the five schools.
“The department is deeply dismayed,” he said. “We remain optimistic that a lasting solution will be found soon.”
Pulumani also revealed that the department was in the process of initiating an advocacy campaign targeting communities to try and discourage the disruption of teaching and learning in schools. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Five Libode schools still shut a week on
The Daily Dispatch reported last week that teaching had been disrupted in Zanokhanyo, Pondomiseni, Dokodela and Mtyu Junior Secondary schools and Gcinizizwe Senior Primary after group of angry villagers from ward 15 in Nyandeni local municipality had chased staff and pupils out of the schools.
They wanted the immediate removal of ANC ward councillor candidate Thembalethu Macingwane in favour of independent candidate Albert Sebenzile Sixabela.
This was despite the fact that the latter had lost against Macingwane during the recent local government elections.
While the protesters, some of whom claimed to be disgruntled ANC members in the ward, could not be reached for comment, Gcinizizwe principal Philiswa Maqokolo yesterday confirmed that they hadn’t re-opened the schools since they were told to close them down.
She said they were getting worried because pupils should be busy preparing for their September trial exams.
“We don’t know what to do with this, really,” she said.
Dokodela principal Ndumiso Mthobela said they had tried to speak to protesters yesterday but were told the schools would only reopen once the impasse had been resolved.
But an angry ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane yesterday lambasted the protesting adults for playing with the futures of the youths.
“We cannot allow anarchy. The future of our children cannot be linked to their political dissatisfaction. That is not acceptable,” he said, adding the ANC had committed to attend to all “legitimate” cases.
“That does not justify going around burning down things and closing schools.”
Mabuyane called on police to play their role by ensuring that people did not vandalise property when they felt aggrieved.
Last week, one of the leaders of the protest in Ward 15, Samkeo Mpalweni, told the Daily Dispatch that Sixabela, a former ANC branch secretary who had resigned before the IEC announced the election candidate list, had been begged to register as an independent candidate by the residents of the ward.
He said Macingwane had been imposed on them by party regional chairman Xolile Nkompela.
However, Macingwane said he had triumphed over Sixabela during the ward candidate nomination process which prompted the latter to resign.
Sixabela said he had nothing to do with the ongoing protest as it was the community that did not want Macingwane.
Nkompela declined to comment when approached.
Provincial education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said it was disconcerting that parents were behind the closure of the five schools.
“The department is deeply dismayed,” he said. “We remain optimistic that a lasting solution will be found soon.”
Pulumani also revealed that the department was in the process of initiating an advocacy campaign targeting communities to try and discourage the disruption of teaching and learning in schools. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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