BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

NORTH WEST premier Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo visited Kopela village in Tswaing local municipality on Friday following a violent service delivery protest which resulted in 3 schools and a clinic being burnt.

Mahumapelo said: “I was supposed to have gone to Zeerust to address government employees on a national recreation and wellness day celebration but I decided to visit Kopela to personally observe the extent of the damage and to understand what drove the community to resort to burning schools and a clinic.”

Mahumapelo visited the burnt schools and the clinic. The extent of the damage is such that learning and teaching cannot take place in the 3 schools. Similarly, the clinic can no longer serve the community in its current state.

Mahumapelo urged the traditional leadership and community members to cooperate with the MEC for Education and Sport Development, Wendy Matsemela when she visits the area for a meeting with parents and stakeholders on Monday in coming up with alternative and interim accommodation for the learners as they are about to commence with the final examinations in the next three weeks.

He set up a committee to immediately met and emerged with proposals on steps that should be taken to resolve the water situation at Kopela village. Acting provincial spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said that the committee comprised of the district mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema, the mayor of Tswaing local municipality, councillors, the chief, representatives of the traditional council and an official from the national department of Water and Sanitation who is based in the province.

Chief Moshoete of Kopela village thanked Mahumapelo for his prompt intervention and for not forsaking his community during this difficult time. He said that a truly-caring leader conducts him the way Mahumapelo did.

North West Education and Sport Development department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said that MEC Wendy Matsemela was expected to visit Kopela village today. He said that Matsemela will be meeting with the community leaders to discuss alternative regarding new accommodations for the matric pupils who will be writing examinations soon.

“MEC Matsemela expressed extreme disappointment at the events which unfolded. It is deeply saddening that schools are burnt at this critical time where learners are about to write exams. There is no excuse for the destruction of centres of learning. We are in the process of meeting with councillors, priests and traditional leaders to find places where learners can write their exams. In the meantime while schools are not habitable for learning, we are looking at churches and other community centres to cater for learners.” Malindisi said.

-TDN

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