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'Evil spell' persists

CONCERNED: Parents attend a prayer meeting at Masegela Primary School at GaSemenya village in Moletji, outside Polokwane, which was held to cast away an "evil spell" believed to have hit the school. PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA
CONCERNED: Parents attend a prayer meeting at Masegela Primary School at GaSemenya village in Moletji, outside Polokwane, which was held to cast away an "evil spell" believed to have hit the school. PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA

THREE more pupils collapsed at Masegela Lower Primary School in GaSemenya, Moletji, near Polokwane in Limpopo.

The neighbouring school, Bosemahla Higher Primary, which also had similar scenes when pupils collapsed last week, was shut down by the community.

Officials of the provincial education department were yesterday locked in meetings with the local tribal authority in a bid to have learning resume at the school.

Pupils at the two schools have been collapsing during school hours in what parents and teachers believe are acts of Satanism.

Pupils often collapsed under mysterious circumstances, especially during morning prayers and during classes.

Various church denominations were called in last Friday to offer prayers to cast away the evil spell.

Classes were disrupted at Masegela again yesterday morning after three pupils collapsed. They regained consciousness after a brief prayer and lessons resumed.

Sowetan has reliably learnt that parents of pupils at the school resolved last week to lock the gates, barring any further learning.

The parents are understood to have insisted that no teaching should take place until "such time that the problem of pupils collapsing was attended to".

The pupils were advised to stay home while teachers were reporting at the circuit office of the education department in Polokwane.

The two schools did not operate last week after girl pupils collapsed during lessons, and the option to shut down was mooted for the safety of pupils.

Department spokesperson Pat Kgomo said yesterday that officials of the department were sent to the two schools to get a report on the situations there.

"Our officials will meet with the local headman in the village to find ways to get the problem solved so that schooling could return to normal," said Kgomo.

"It is our wish that problems at the schools be resolved in order to prioritise the education of our children," he said.

Two weeks ago, a pastor was called to Bosemahla where 35 pupils collapsed while the man of the cloth was busy preaching.

On Friday during a visit by Sowetan, more than 10 pupils collapsed in full view of pastors from various churches.

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