This comes after the MEC for Education, Martha Bartlett, visited ten schools, on Wednesday, in Galashewe, Roodepan and Greenpoint to assess and monitor the re-opening of schools. 

Bartlett was pleased to see that most schools in the area had re-opened unhindered, despite high absenteeism rates. 

Learner attendance at the 75 schools in Kimberley stood at about 40% on Tuesday, owing to parents’ concerns over safety. 

Education department spokesperson, Geoffrey Van der Merwe, says there is no reason for parents to be concerned over protests, seeing as the situation in the ‘Diamond City’ has normalised following violent service delivery protests that erupted last week over the recently introduced R260 basic electricity tariff.

He says the department is pleased with the progress made regarding the unrest, seeing as this is the third term, “a short term” especially for learners in matric, who are preparing for final exams.

OFM News reported earlier that The ANC in the province is paying bail for 47 of the community members who were arrested during the violent service delivery protest. Some of those arrested are said to be minors.

Meanwhile, the department celebrated Nelson Mandela Day by identifying schools where they would donate 100 school shoes. Van der Merwe told OFM News that they had also chosen 100 schools that will receive library books.

OFM News