The North West Department of Education, under the leadership of MEC Viola Motsumi, strongly condemns the recent theft of the school roof that spread across three classrooms at Mmanjaakgora Primary School in Prisca village, Moretele. This incident was noticed on Saturday 6 July 2024, and has caused significant disruption to the educational environment and the community at large.

In response to this unfortunate event, the Department has swiftly arranged a library as a temporary measure for multigrade Grades 1, 2, and 3 to ensure that learners continue their education without interruption, especially during the harsh winter season.

We urge parents to remain calm as we work diligently to resolve the situation and implement the best solutions possible.

MEC Viola Motsumi expressed her deep concern and disappointment regarding this incident.

"We can confirm that the roof of the structure, that accommodates three classrooms – Grade R, 1, 2, and 3 – has been stolen. I wish to state that the theft of the school roof is not only a criminal act but a direct attack on the future of our children. It is disheartening to see such behaviour, especially as we prepare for the reopening of schools for the third term in the thick of winter.”

‘Education will ensure those responsible will be brought to justice’

”This act not only disrupts the education of our learners but also undermines the rights of children, human dignity, and the progress we have made in improving the performance of our schools. I met with the principals of underperforming schools just last Friday, 5 July, and incidents like these only hinder the strides we are making. We are committed to ensuring that our learners receive the education they deserve, and we will not allow such acts to derail our efforts.

In the meantime, we have arranged a library to accommodate three grades and a mini library for Grade R”, Motsumi expressed.

The North West Department of Education is working closely with law enforcement to ensure that those responsible for this crime are brought to justice.

We appeal to the community to assist in safeguarding our schools and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.

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