King slams torching of schools
King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana has come out in support of his subjects’ protest in the Vuwani area, but has drawn the line at violence.
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Vhavenda king Toni Mphephu Ramabulana has come out in support of his subjects’ protest in the Vuwani area, but has drawn the line at violence and vandalism.
Ramabulana was speaking as the future of 60 000 schoolchildren hung in the balance following the gutting this week of about 24 schools.
At least another 26 have been affected by the violence.
Residents in Vuwani and surrounding villages are protesting after losing a court battle to have the area remain under Makhado, instead of being merged with Malamulele municipality.
The king has called for a meeting with President Jacob Zuma.
“My people didn’t ask for a municipality, it’s the people in Malamulele who did. Our problem is real.”
The king said that a legal challenge through the Supreme Court of Appeal to get the court decision changed, as suggested by Co-operative Governance Minister Des Van Rooyen on Thursday night, would not be a solution to their problems.
“This is a political matter and not for the courts to decide,” he said. After meeting the interministerial task team at his Royal House in Dzanani yesterday, the king condemned the burning of schools, saying such action was “destroying the future”.
He also dismissed allegations that the protests were rooted in tribalism. “The Venda and Shangaan people have been living together for years,” he said.
But the damage has been done and weeks, if not months, of the school year will be lost as the Department of Basic Education scrambles to accommodate the pupils.
Minister Angie Motshekga confirmed that there was no plan in place yet to help the thousands of pupils to get on with their studies.
Outside Vhafamadzi Secondary School, rubble including pots used for the school feeding scheme, and desks were yesterday used to barricade roads.
At Mpangane Junior Primary rice meant for the school’s feeding scheme was strewn all over the burnt school yard. “It’s sad to see schools like this,” Motshekga said after visiting the schools.
She said the provincial department will still make an assessment and see the extent of the damage and what plans could be put in place to assist pupils.
“The painful thing is that Vhembe district is one of the best performing districts in Limpopo. Some of the best schools in the country are from this area,” she lamented.
Police presence has been high in some of the most volatile villages, including Mashau and Masakona. Yesterday, most pupils didn’t attend school and those who did wore civilian clothes. A group of high school pupils said that they wore civilian clothes because they didn’t want their schools identified and torched.
Motshekga said while infrastructure might be rebuilt,the records were lost in the fires.
“We don’t have ICT in our schools and have no way of retrieving lost documents.”
tebogo.monama@inl.co.za
Saturday Star