By BAKANG MOKOTO
19 June 2026- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has official handed over a fully furnished, state-of-the-art Kgosi Shope Secondary School to the community of Setlhwatlhwe village on 17 June 2026. Motsumi said the handover ceremony coincided with the commemoration of the Soweto Uprising, honouring the sacrifices made by the youth of 16 June 1976 in the struggle for equal and quality education.
She further said as the nation reflects on this important chapter in South Africa’s history, learners at Kgosi Shope Secondary School benefitted a modern educational facility designed to provide a conducive environment for learning and teaching. Motsumi added that new school is expected to improve academic performance, enhance access to quality education and restore the dignity of learners in rural communities by providing infrastructure that meets modern educational standards.
“The department is hard at work eradicating unsafe and inappropriate schools. As part of the department’s ongoing program to eradicate unsafe and inappropriate school infrastructure.
“We delivered a school with 12 new classrooms, administration block, science laboratory, library, ablution facilities, water, electricity and perimeter fencing], replacing dilapidated structures that previously compromised the safety and dignity of learners and educators,” she said.
Motsumi further said through this project, they are restoring the dignity of both learners and educators of Setlhwatlhwe village. She added that no child should learn under fear of collapsing walls or leaking roofs.
“Kgosi Shope Secondary School now stands as proof that the Department keeps its promises. Infrastructure is the foundation for quality teaching and learning and we will not rest until every learner in the North West has access to safe, modern schools.
“We further urge learners to take ownership of the new facilities and use them to improve academic performance,” said Mocumi.
She said these classrooms open the doors of learning. Motsumi said they must walk through it.
“Success is a journey, not a destination. Study hard, respect the infrastructure and see this as your first step toward bursaries, TVET colleges, universities and green economy careers.
“The future needs skilled young people who will be able to manage the province. As the department, we remain committed to accelerating infrastructure delivery and strengthening career guidance so that learners in rural areas like Setlhwatlhwe have equal access to opportunity, skills development and the green economy,” she said.
The Guardian 