Parents were earlier on warned to not take their children to schools because taxis were also expected to not operate.

According to the Free State Department of Education spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, the Mangaung shutdown has affected the education fraternity adversely, especially covering the curriculum, as teachers are unable to attend schools in various regions. 

"The entire Mangaung's schools are closed, about 40% of schools in Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo, Dewetsdorp, Wepener, and Tweespruit are unable to go to work because most of the teachers in those areas stay in Bloemfontein," Ndaba explained. He further stated that the protest has a huge burden on learning and teaching, as schools have already lost time due to lockdown at the beginning of the year.

One of the parents in the community of Mangaung, said that parents are concerned about the education of their children, considering that the country is still under level 1 of Covid-19 restrictions, and learners only attend school every other week. She further explained that her child was part of Group B, which attended school last week. This week it was supposed to be Group A. She further stated that the organisers of this shutdown were supposed to think about this.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi