The Basic Education Department has, on the other hand, last night at the eleventh hour, announced that learners in grades 12 and seven would not be returning to school this morning and that they will only be expected back in the classroom in a week’s time. 

OFM News' Katleho Morapela reports that some schools in Mangaung started opening their doors and people started queuing outside liquor stores.

The OFM News team this morning visited the Unity Primary School and Tsoseletso High School where they found school management teams, teachers, and non-teaching staff as per the department's directive making their way to the school in preparation for the arrival of pupils next week.

Although it is not clear as to when the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the deep cleaning of schools around the province will be done, some teachers at these schools told OFM News that they are extremely concerned about their safety and only reported for duty this morning to hear from the management team the way forward.

After rescheduling a media briefing that was supposed to take place at 18:00 on Sunday, the Department of Basic Education announced that grade 12 and 7 learners across the country will no longer have to go to schools this morning and that they will only be expected at schools on Monday 8 June. 

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is due to paint a clear picture on the situation at 11 am on Monday morning. 

Meanwhile, long queues formed at a number of local liquor stores in Mangaung.

OFM News