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The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga has condemned the burning down of school property in the Kuruman region of the Northern Cape. Administration blocks of some schools have been set alight in the past two months. It is suspected that this arson is connected to the protests in the area that have prevented learners from 54 schools attending class since June 5th this year. "Preventing learners from their right to an education and malicious destruction to infrastructure cannot be tolerated,” said Motshekga.

The protesters are perpetuating a culture of fear and anarchy in the community, despite the provincial government’s positive response to the issues the protesters have raised. The Northern Cape Provincial Government has committed to addressing their demands and yet our children are still being denied access to schools. Provincial education authorities have laid charges with the SAPS and we are confident arrests will follow as this situation cannot be allowed to continue.

‘’The issues being raised have absolutely nothing to do with education and we call upon the protesters to allow learning and teaching to take place without any further delay. Learners cannot continue to be used as bargaining chips in a situation that could have an extremely negative effect on their future,’’ said Motshekga.

The province have provided a detailed catch-up and recovery plan for all schools if learners are permitted return and normal teaching and learning is able to take place.