Kopela residents in North West have vowed to sacrifice their children's education until they get basic services.
They want access to running water, roads and electricity.
And so the residents went on the rampage last month, leaving three schools and a local clinic burnt to ashes.
They said they were willing to gamble with their children's future to get the attention of government officials.
Community leader Sporo Tsoku said an agreement was made with the North West education department to send their matrics to a place conducive to studying.
Yesterday morning 55 matriculants were taken to Vryburg to prepare for their final exams, that they will also write there.
But pupils from Grade R to Grade 11 will not attend school until the community receives the attention of the government, the community has vowed.
"We want a better future for our children, so we have agreed that only the matriculants can go and study elsewhere, but we will not be releasing the rest of the pupils if our main problem is not addressed," he said.
MEC Wendy Matsemela is the only government official who has shown interest, Tsoku said.
"She is intervening because our children are not attending school, but that is not what we initially wanted. We want roads, water and electricity, we want to see local government and public works MECs here first before the rest of our children can go back."
Education spokesman Elias Malindi confirmed that the department had relocated 55 pupils to a shelter in Vryburg.
He said they will be attending classes there and use the same building as an examination centre.
Malindi said the department also has an internal plan for the Grade R to Grade 11 pupils at the affected schools.
"We are consulting with all the community leaders and tribal authorities so that there can be smooth implementation of the intervention plan. We want our learners to finally write their examinations in all the affected schools. In due course all learners will be back at school," he said.
Local government and human settlements spokesman Ben Bole said an executive council meeting held at Tswaing local municipality would determine the fate of the residents.
tshehleb@sowetan.co.za
Boiling Point
Gun shots echo through the informal settlement in Kya Sands as hundreds of rock-throwing protesters clash with armed police. It seems like just an ordinary day in South Africa, and just another service delivery protest over empty political promises. But, in the heart of many impoverished communities, tempers are flaring and angry protesters know that only through violence will their message be heard. From Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg, this week investigative journalism television series Carte Blanche takes to the streets to ask whether government has lost touch with its people.
Kopela residents gamble with their childrens' education
Kopela residents in North West have vowed to sacrifice their children's education until they get basic services.
They want access to running water, roads and electricity.
And so the residents went on the rampage last month, leaving three schools and a local clinic burnt to ashes.
They said they were willing to gamble with their children's future to get the attention of government officials.
Community leader Sporo Tsoku said an agreement was made with the North West education department to send their matrics to a place conducive to studying.
Yesterday morning 55 matriculants were taken to Vryburg to prepare for their final exams, that they will also write there.
But pupils from Grade R to Grade 11 will not attend school until the community receives the attention of the government, the community has vowed.
"We want a better future for our children, so we have agreed that only the matriculants can go and study elsewhere, but we will not be releasing the rest of the pupils if our main problem is not addressed," he said.
MEC Wendy Matsemela is the only government official who has shown interest, Tsoku said.
"She is intervening because our children are not attending school, but that is not what we initially wanted. We want roads, water and electricity, we want to see local government and public works MECs here first before the rest of our children can go back."
Education spokesman Elias Malindi confirmed that the department had relocated 55 pupils to a shelter in Vryburg.
He said they will be attending classes there and use the same building as an examination centre.
Malindi said the department also has an internal plan for the Grade R to Grade 11 pupils at the affected schools.
"We are consulting with all the community leaders and tribal authorities so that there can be smooth implementation of the intervention plan. We want our learners to finally write their examinations in all the affected schools. In due course all learners will be back at school," he said.
Local government and human settlements spokesman Ben Bole said an executive council meeting held at Tswaing local municipality would determine the fate of the residents.
tshehleb@sowetan.co.za
Boiling Point
Gun shots echo through the informal settlement in Kya Sands as hundreds of rock-throwing protesters clash with armed police. It seems like just an ordinary day in South Africa, and just another service delivery protest over empty political promises. But, in the heart of many impoverished communities, tempers are flaring and angry protesters know that only through violence will their message be heard. From Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg, this week investigative journalism television series Carte Blanche takes to the streets to ask whether government has lost touch with its people.
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