DAMAGE estimated at thousands of rands was caused to a Transkei school when pupils protested over the school's financial report this week.
Details of the incident were sketchy, but police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said pupils at Dumrana Junior Secondary School went on the rampage after allegedly complaining to their principal about the school's finances.
"They caused damage to eight classrooms by breaking down the doors and also broke windowpanes," Fatyela said.
"There was no arson but a water tank was burnt in the process at the brick and mortar school."
Fatyela also said 70 suspects were arrested, including pupils and members of the community from Dumrana village, on charges of public violence and damage to property.
"It is clear that the villagers were involved because the ages of those arrested ranged from 18 to 65," Fatyela said.
The suspects were scheduled to appear in the Mthatha Magistrate's Court yesterday. At the time of going to press they had not made a court appearance.
Education department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department was aware of the incident.
"The district director has scheduled a meeting with the school governing body and parents to discuss the matter," he said.
Superintendent-general Modidima Mannya condemned the incident, saying it was completely unacceptable.
"The danger of what they are doing is that they will not have a school. Where are we going to get money to put up another school?" he asked.
"One appreciates the high level of frustration but I don't think it warrants the destruction of the little that is there in a province that has such a backlog of infrastructure construction and maintenance."
The trouble and subsequent damage to Dumrana Junior Secondary comes a week after pupils at Menziwa Senior Secondary, also outside Mthatha, set parts of the school alight.
Mannya said the violent incidents at the schools showed society had become intolerant.
"We have become very intolerant in the manner we express our frustrations," he said.
He added that it said it was a concern that parents were involved in the protests.
Pupils, parents damage second school
DAMAGE estimated at thousands of rands was caused to a Transkei school when pupils protested over the school's financial report this week.
Details of the incident were sketchy, but police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said pupils at Dumrana Junior Secondary School went on the rampage after allegedly complaining to their principal about the school's finances.
"They caused damage to eight classrooms by breaking down the doors and also broke windowpanes," Fatyela said.
"There was no arson but a water tank was burnt in the process at the brick and mortar school."
Fatyela also said 70 suspects were arrested, including pupils and members of the community from Dumrana village, on charges of public violence and damage to property.
"It is clear that the villagers were involved because the ages of those arrested ranged from 18 to 65," Fatyela said.
The suspects were scheduled to appear in the Mthatha Magistrate's Court yesterday. At the time of going to press they had not made a court appearance.
Education department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department was aware of the incident.
"The district director has scheduled a meeting with the school governing body and parents to discuss the matter," he said.
Superintendent-general Modidima Mannya condemned the incident, saying it was completely unacceptable.
"The danger of what they are doing is that they will not have a school. Where are we going to get money to put up another school?" he asked.
"One appreciates the high level of frustration but I don't think it warrants the destruction of the little that is there in a province that has such a backlog of infrastructure construction and maintenance."
The trouble and subsequent damage to Dumrana Junior Secondary comes a week after pupils at Menziwa Senior Secondary, also outside Mthatha, set parts of the school alight.
Mannya said the violent incidents at the schools showed society had become intolerant.
"We have become very intolerant in the manner we express our frustrations," he said.
He added that it said it was a concern that parents were involved in the protests.
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