The troubled Umyezo Wama Apile combined school in Grabouw, Cape Town, will be closed until April, the Western Cape education department said on Wednesday.
“The disruption and intimidation of teachers and learners have made it impossible for normal teaching and learning to take place,” MEC Donald Grant said.
“The department has not taken this step lightly and remains committed to its policy of protecting teaching and learning time.”
Members of the Elgin Grabouw Civic Organisation barged into the school last week to demand the building of a new school.
Some facilities were set alight and a few people were arrested for public violence.
Disruptions continued this week when civic organisation members stormed classrooms and demanded that classes stop.
They told pupils that Grant had not responded to a memorandum in which the group demanded new classrooms be built.
Grant said he responded to the memorandum last Friday and was doing everything to obtain a site for a new school, news which the organisation “chose to ignore”.
Pupils would be dismissed from Wednesday till the start of a new school term on April 10.
He said district officials would assist teachers with preparing syllabus catch-up plans.
“The school's management team and other educators will report for duty as usual and will continue with school-related activities for the remainder of the term.” – Sapa