THE situation remains tense amid a heavy police presence aimed at restoring order in one of Limpopo's schools.
THE situation remains tense amid a heavy police presence aimed at restoring order in one of Limpopo's schools.
This was after angry pupils demanded that a cultural day be held at the school.
Pupils from Mbangazeki High School in Xikukwani village near Giyani stopped attending classes on Tuesday last week. They accuse school principal Lazarus Mkhavele of running the school like a spaza shop.
The pupils also accuse him of failing to allow them to participate in cultural and sporting activities. They allege that Mkhavele is a "Christian" and hated anything that had to do with cultural activities at the school. He also allegedly introduced regulations barring pupils from taking part in any cultural activities at the school.
Police were called in on Tuesday and yesterday after the pupils started protesting and chanting freedom songs. They "threatened" to harm Mkhavele.
Vutomi Risenga, a pupil at the school, said since the establishment of the school in 1990,no cultural activities have taken place.
She said when they approached Mkhavele he always told them he did not like cultural activities because his Christian beliefs did not allow such things.
"We are prepared to fight to the bitter end to ensure that our rights are taken into consideration," Risenga said. The pupils want education MEC Namane Masemola to intervene.
They also accuse Mkhavele of failing to buy a water tank, though there is enough money in the budget.
Mkhavele refused to comment yeaterday.
Provincial department of education spokesperson Ndo Mangala could not be reached for comment.
ANGRY PupilS stop school
THE situation remains tense amid a heavy police presence aimed at restoring order in one of Limpopo's schools.
THE situation remains tense amid a heavy police presence aimed at restoring order in one of Limpopo's schools.
This was after angry pupils demanded that a cultural day be held at the school.
Pupils from Mbangazeki High School in Xikukwani village near Giyani stopped attending classes on Tuesday last week. They accuse school principal Lazarus Mkhavele of running the school like a spaza shop.
The pupils also accuse him of failing to allow them to participate in cultural and sporting activities. They allege that Mkhavele is a "Christian" and hated anything that had to do with cultural activities at the school. He also allegedly introduced regulations barring pupils from taking part in any cultural activities at the school.
Police were called in on Tuesday and yesterday after the pupils started protesting and chanting freedom songs. They "threatened" to harm Mkhavele.
Vutomi Risenga, a pupil at the school, said since the establishment of the school in 1990,no cultural activities have taken place.
She said when they approached Mkhavele he always told them he did not like cultural activities because his Christian beliefs did not allow such things.
"We are prepared to fight to the bitter end to ensure that our rights are taken into consideration," Risenga said. The pupils want education MEC Namane Masemola to intervene.
They also accuse Mkhavele of failing to buy a water tank, though there is enough money in the budget.
Mkhavele refused to comment yeaterday.
Provincial department of education spokesperson Ndo Mangala could not be reached for comment.