THE recent tension at Mbangazeki High School in Limpopo eased off yesterday after pupils returned to classes.

This was after school management, the circuit manager and pupils met to resolve the pupils' complaints.

The pupils had abandoned classes for nine days, demanding that cultural and sporting activities be allowed at the school.

They also accused school principal Lazarus Mkhavele of running the school like a "spaza shop".

Pupils leader Cedric Chauke said the pupils were now back in class in order to give school management time to meet their demands. But he criticised the circuit manager for education of being hostile to pupils' demands.

The school near Giyani was established in 1990. Cultural and sporting activities have never taken place at the school, Chauke said.

Mkhavele has apparently claimed that his Christian faith did not permit him from being involved in such activities.

Ndo Mangala, spokesperson for the provincial department of education, said cultural activities were not a problem "as long as they did not include liquor and lawlessness".

He said they would wait for a report from the circuit manager before making a decision.