Tshimbupfe - The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) established to oversee the return to normality in Vuwani and surrounding areas and traditional leaders of volatile Tshimbupfe Central have unanimously agreed to reopen all schools in the area.
While peace and stability have been restored in volatile areas such as Mashau, Vyeboom, Masakona and Masia villages, Tshino-Ha-Nesengani, with learners back in school, all the schools in the 13 villages under Tshimbupfe Central remain closed.
Certain parts of the two main roads to the village from Vuwani are still blockaded with rocks. It was alleged that traditional leaders in the area took a decision to continue with the shutdown after losing a court case to oppose their area being incorporated into the new proposed municipality.
As a result, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, who is a member of the IMC, met with the traditional leaders and residents a Tshimbupfe Traditional Council earlier today.
It was not an easy meeting, with the two teams taking small breaks, only to go back into the traditional council chamber to continue with the deliberations.
Walking out from the meeting with a smile, Minister Muthambi said: “We’ve agreed unanimously with all the traditional leaders that schools must reopen so that learners and teachers can go back to their classrooms.
“We’ve all agreed that the issue of getting learners back to school is non-negotiable… The only issue that we need to engage each other going forward until we get a lasting solution is the demarcation issue.
“As government, we believe in resolving issues through dialogue… There are service delivery issues such as water and roads in the area but we cannot allow a situation where kids are not allowed to go to school because of demarcation.
“We are expecting all schools in the area to reopen next week Monday because we want traditional leaders to organise meetings at their respective villages tomorrow and tell all the villagers that all kids must return to school.”
Minister Muthambi said they have also agreed that the roads must be cleared in the village so that public transport services are able to operate. - SAnews.gov.za
