Pretoria – Public Service and Administration Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi has strongly condemned the torching of schools in Vuwani, Limpopo.
“The recent spate of violence and burning of schools and other State property in Vuwani in Limpopo can never be justified no matter how aggrieved the community is.
“As the Ministry for Public Service and Administration, we are outraged and thus condemn this despicable conduct, as it is adversely affecting learning in schools and disrupting delivery of services.
“As government, we are putting into place all mechanisms to ensure that learning is restored as a matter of urgency in all affected areas,” he said while presenting his department’s 2016/17 Budget Vote.
Twenty schools were burnt and four were damaged. Tribal offices, a satellite police station, and a Post Office were also torched. Vehicles were damaged during protests in and around Vuwani, which are reportedly spurred by municipal demarcation.
The district municipality has declared Vuwani a disaster area. Government, meanwhile, says it will pool together funds to rebuild schools that were burnt down.
A thorough assessment of the damage to schools and infrastructure is still being conducted. – SAnews.gov.za
