By REGINALD KANYANE
It’s been almost two months since pupils at Baga-Maidi community were prohibited to go to school due to strike over a tar road. The community members in Molelema village in Taung and its surroundings embarked on protests where shops were looted and few buildings were torched in the process.
They also barricaded road linking Taung and Schweizer Reneke and other internal roads with debris and burning tyres. The community members demand tar roads on D208 and D209 respectively.
North West Public Works and Roads department heed their call and offered to construct 10km tar road as a start. MEC Mmule Maluleke said the department cannot construct 71km tar road as there is no budget.
However, Maluleke’ submission was fervidly rejected by community members as they said: “Either 71km tar road or nothing.”
Community leader, Mothibi Makoro said: “The situation is unscrupulous and school children are mostly affected. We had a meeting with those who are affected and the parents of those children agreed that there will be no school until our demands are met. However, we agreed that those who want to go back to school should do so without being prohibited.
“Some of these school children also agreed with the decision and say they understand the demands are valid. So, we will be meeting with the department today at Greater Taung Local Municipality offices for a way forward.”
Makoro also lambasted those who circulated fake messages on social media under his name. He said people should be wary of that and refrain from redistributing those messages.
“There is a section of community members who want to divide us and create confusion. However, we are aware of those detractors and we will address that decisively. We cannot budge now and let people to divide us. We stand together as community and we want to see our demands being properly addressed,” he said.
North West Education and Sport Development department spokesperson, Freddy Sepeng said the protests affected many pupils especially Grade 12s. Sepeng urged those who are behind protests to let children to go to school.
“We urge those who are behind those protests to refrain from prohibiting pupils to go to school. These protests will affect those children in future. The department understands that communities are angry and their demands are valid. However, it is absurd and irresponsible to prohibit children from attending school.
“We will come up with remedial actions and assist those who are affected. Our teachers will organise extra classes especially during June school adjournment to recover from time lost during unrests,” he said.
The Guardian 