Learners went to school as normal this morning but found that the Naledi ya Botjhabela Secondary School's gates were locked and no one could enter the premises.

Angry parents demanded the closure of the school with immediate effect after one of the learners tested positive for Covid-19.

They fear that their children might be at risk of contracting the virus.

Meanwhile, the provincial spokesperson for the Education Department, Howard Ndaba, told OFM News that there is no need to close the school. Ndaba says the said learner has been sent home last week Thursday and assured parents that classes are cleaned daily.

He adds that the learner's results came back positive yesterday.

Ndaba says the department is always advised by the Department of Health concerning Covid-19. He further states that the health department informed them that two other learners, who were contacts of the learner who tested positive, are in self-isolation.

He adds that school was suspended for today and will resume again on Monday. Ndaba assures learners, parents and teachers that the school is safe and that there is no need to panic. He furthermore explains that since the matric exams are around the corner, there is no time to waste.

Ndaba urges parents and all other stakeholders to work together to fight the spread of the virus.

OFM News/Tumelo Khotha