The MEC of Education, Tate Makgoe, announced on his Twitter profile on Thursday that 53 learners and 7 teachers, including the principal and his deputy, tested positive for Covid-19. 

Makgoe further says Grade 10, 11 and 12 classes will resume on 23 August and Grades 9 and 8 on 30 August 2021. Free State Education spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, says the department is doing all they can to ensure that they do not lose tuition time.  

According to the secondary school's principal, Deon Scheepers, academic reports will be sent out electronically. The hard copies will be available to learners as soon as they return to school. 

Scheepers says all extra-curricular activities are discontinued immediately until further notice, including all the planned sport matches for August, as well as the Open Days of this coming weekend. 

Parents will still be able to fetch the hostel learners tomorrow to give them time to make the necessary arrangements. The first weekend after the hostel learners return to school, will be a compulsory stay-in weekend due to Covid-19 protocols.

OFM News/Blaine Jones