Speaking outside the Batho Primary School in Bloemfontein where Acting MEC Thembeni Nxangisa went to monitor the re-opening of the school, departmental spokesperson Howard Ndada says they are confident that schools across the province are ready to re-open following the 4-week-long break announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ndaba tells OFM News that almost 60 000 Grade 6 learners and over 43 000 Grade 11 learners were expected back at school across the province today and have not heard any disruptions, except at the Fauna Primary School. 

Parents staged a picket outside this Bloemfontein-based school this morning in demand for the headmaster to be placed on suspension after 28 School Governing Body (SGB) employees, which include seven teachers, were fired.

OFM News previously reported that according to the parents gathered outside the school on Monday, the firing of teachers and cleaners just days before more grades were set to be phased-in, leaves their children vulnerable and more at risk of the Covid-19 pandemic.

One of the parents, Maleho Motlhale, said a lack of social distancing at the school, as well as scholar transport, are major concerns that the school is seemingly turning a blind eye and demands that the school headmaster be placed on suspension pending investigations.

Meanwhile, Ndaba says the department has only learned of these allegations today and urges anyone with further information to approach the department. He said the 28 SGB employees were released from their duties as a result of parents’ non-payment of school fees and that the letter that released the employees from their duties was signed by the SGB Chairperson and that the department has not dissolved the SGB of the school.

Ndaba says as far as they are concerned, no corruption allegations nor Covid-19 regulation contraventions at the school have been brought to their attention before.

Ndaba urges all teachers and learners at various schools across the province to take all Covid-19 safety measures and maintain a safe social distance.

He adds that MEC Tate Makgoe and Head of the Department Tsoarelo Malakoane are recovering from Covid-19 and will hopefully soon take office.

OFM News