Durban - Basic Education Minister Angie Motsekga has her hands full putting out fires and trying to stop more schools from going up in flames in troubled Vuwani, Limpopo.
Whereas parents there stand accused of torching schools, parents in Folweni near Durban have taken it upon themselves to protect educational institutions.
For the past two months schooling in the area has been disrupted by protests against a person on the nomination list for the coming local elections.
Folweni's community decided at a meeting last weekend to monitor their children and schools, especially in the mornings, after the schools were closed during the protests.
As a result, the schools were reopened, with parents ensuring they were not attacked or vandalised.
Jabu Ndlovu, 43, whose two children, Nhlakanipho, 11, and Sizeni Ndlovu, 5, attend Celubuhle Senior Primary, is one of 10 monitors at the school.
She said: “The situation has been turbulent. We have taken the initiative to protect our schools and children. They are far behind in the syllabus and need extra time to catch up. My children kept asking when they could go back to school and I could not respond.
“Now I feel better because the situation has stabilised, but we are still worried because the political matters have not been resolved,” Ndlovu said.
Ten schools were closed for about two months, including four high and six primary schools, in Folweni after protests against ANC candidate Mthokozisi Xulu being in the running to become a councillor in the coming local government elections.
ANC spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli said the selection of ANC representatives had not yet been completed, but they were aware of the conflict over Xulu's inclusion on the list.
Folweni municipal offices were petrol-bombed and a municipal vehicle was damaged in a February protest by about 3 000 people over a lack of service delivery.
Sunday Tribune