Picture: Two children, who were allegedly abandoned on Mosiapoa Street in Huhudi Township, Vryburg/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
Police in Huhudi Township, near Vryburg needs your assistance in locating the parents or relatives of two toddlers. According to the North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma, two toddlers, who identified themselves as Bokamoso Lephatse, 5, and
Thato Lephatse, 3, were found abandoned in the early morning of Thursday at Mosiapoa Street in Huhudi Township.
“The two toddlers were found alone and they were brought to the Huhudi Police Station. They were taken to a place of safety, whilst the search for the mother or any relatives continues.
“Anyone who can assist the police with the whereabouts of the mother or any family members can contact Huhudi Station Commander, Lt Col Mbotho on 082 492 3806 or Sergeant Leepile Monyatsi on 082 416 0933,” she said.
Picture: North West Provincial Legislature deputy speaker, Viola Motsumi
By REGINALD KANYANE
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education, Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation welcomed the delivery of 20 mobile classrooms and the resumption of teaching and learning at Morokweng Primary School in Morokweng.
The North West Provincial Legislature deputy speaker, Viola Motsumi, and acting chairperson, Papiki Babuile convened a meeting with the Department of Education, school management, and School Governing Body (SGB), where the committee sort urgent intervention on the dilapidated school infrastructure.
Motsumi said the school building was not conducive to learning and teaching. She said parents and school management had informed the committee that, the department had promised to build them a new school since 2012, but nothing was done.
“The committee is happy with the resumption of teaching and learning as well as mobile classrooms. When we visited the school during oversight, we could see that there was no school there.
“The infrastructure was dilapidated and no one could allow their child to attend school because it was not safe. During the two intervention meetings with the department, school management, and parents, we instructed the department to develop a comprehensive plan that will ensure that the new school is built,” she said.
Motsumi further said that, the department provides mobile classes as a temporary measure. She added that they also needed to know how the department will cover the lost time as learners spent over a month without attending classes.
“The committee had also urged the department to fix its infrastructure directorate as there are too many internal quarrels that affect service delivery,” said Motsumi.
Aggrieved parents, prohibited their children to attend school since June 2022, calling for the department to build a new school. They cited that the current school building is dilapidated and is a ticking bomb as learners are not safe.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Department of Education, Wendy Matsemela said: “We can confirm that there is a resumption of teaching and learning at the school. This is due to an outcry by parents who complained about the conditions of the school.
“Classes resumed on Wednesday with a recovery plan in place to cover the lost classroom time. Since the beginning of the third quarter, on 19 July 2022, learners could not return to school because parents wanted a new school.”
Matsemela further said the school has received 20 mobile classrooms to mitigate the challenging school environment. Two more will be delivered as soon as they arrive to be 22 in number. She also lauded the community for their patience during this time.
“We are thankful to the school community of Morokweng Primary School for their patience during this time. Indeed, our learners deserve better, safe, and dignified spaces for learning.
“Currently, processes are unfolding for the building of a new school. In terms of lost teaching and learning time, extra classes are being administered to meet the lost time,” she said.
Matsemela added that the school will not close during the September break as part of a recovery plan to catch up and conclude the syllabus.
Picture: Learners walking home after school/Generic
By REGINALD KANYANE
North West MEC for Department of Education, Wendy Matsemela said the tragic death of five learners at Vyfhoek Primary School in Potchefstroom is devastating.
Learners were allegedly run over by a mini truck inside their school premises on Thursday afternoon. According to the ER24 spokesperson, Russel Meiring, five learners were killed and four others injured when a truck crashed through a school fence and stopped in the parking area.
Meiring said ER24 and several other services responded to the scene along the N12, approximately 10km outside of Potchefstroom.
“On arrival, paramedics found the truck parked near several small container buildings. Upon closer inspection, paramedics found three children lying under the truck while several others were around the vehicle.
“All the children were believed to be aged between 7 and 11. Medics quickly assessed the patients and found four children had shown no signs of life. Unfortunately, nothing could be done for them, and they were later declared dead,” he said.
Meiring said three other children were in critical condition, while two others had severe injuries. He said paramedics treated the patients and provided them with advanced life support.
“Unfortunately, after a short time, one critically injured child succumbed to their injuries. Once treated, paramedics transported the three other children to a nearby hospital for urgent care.
“The driver of the truck escaped injury. The exact details surrounding this incident are unknown, but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations,” said Meiring.
Meanwhile, Matsemela said: “The mini truck is reported to have been traveling from Potchefstroom towards the Johannesburg direction on the N12 road and capsized after a front wheel tyre burst.
“The driver lost control of the vehicle, then went straight through the school fence plunging on four learners and killing them on the spot, while one died in the ambulance.”
Matsemela said according to the school report, the learners were waiting for their school transport after school. She further calls for cooperation during this difficult time.
“This is the most devastating news to share. Losing five learners in this manner is not easy to accept- as a parent and as a caretaker to these learners.
“We are truly lost for words and we plead with the public to treat the matter with sensitivity as parents are still trying to get to terms with this sudden loss. I wish to send a word of comfort to the bereaved families and for those whose learners are hospitalised,” said Matsemela.
Teaching and learning have resumed at Morokweng primary School in Morokweng village, outside Ganyesa. This comes after the North West Department of Education reached an agreement with the parents of the learners.
Aggrieved parents, prohibited their children to attend school since June 2022, calling for the department to build a new school. They cited that the current school building is dilapidated and is a ticking bomb as learners are not safe.
However, the North West MEC for Department of Education, Wendy Matsemela said: “We can confirm that there is a resumption of teaching and learning at the school. This is due to an outcry by parents who complained about the conditions of the school.
“Classes resumed on Wednesday with a recovery plan in place to cover the lost classroom time. Since the beginning of the third quarter, on 19 July 2022, learners could not return to school because parents wanted a new school.”
Matsemela further said the school has received 20 mobile classrooms to mitigate the challenging school environment. Two more will be delivered as soon as they arrive to be 22 in number. She also lauded the community for their patience during this time.
“We are thankful to the school community of Morokweng Primary School for their patience during this time. Indeed, our learners deserve better, safe, and dignified spaces for learning.
“Currently, processes are unfolding for the building of a new school. In terms of lost teaching and learning time, extra classes are being administered to meet the lost time,” she said.
Matsemela added that the school will not close during the September break as part of a recovery plan to catch up and conclude the syllabus.
The Guardian 
