The department of basic education said that in KwaZulu-Natal, two schools were broken into and the entire consignment of safety materials was stolen. 

In Soweto, two people were allegedly killed by members of the community after attempting to break into a school where deliveries of Covid-19 safety essentials had just been made. 

“We appeal to members of the community not to take the law into their own hands. Communities must protect schools against vandalism but must ensure at all times that violence does not occur.  We request that the community should rather work with the police to bring suspected perpetrators to justice," said Motshekga.     

The CEM met on Monday to consider progress on the reopening of schools and to receive reports to this effect. 

Last week, the CEM decided that school management teams and teachers would return to school on Monday to finalise preparations ahead of reopening for grades 7 and 12 on June 1. 

Motshekga said that this week would be dedicated to mopping up and finalising all outstanding matters before learners returned. She said the CEM also agreed that provinces should intensify preparations towards June 1. 

On Sunday, president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would move to Covid-19 level 3 lockdown on June 1. 

"Cabinet has determined that the alert level for the whole country should be lowered from level 4 to level 3 with effect from June 1," Ramaphosa said in a televised address to the nation.

He said this would entail the reopening of most of the economy and would see some eight million people return to work, including most civil servants. 

The president acknowledged that government recognised a measure of anxiety among parents regarding the resumption of classes, and said there would be no consequence if parents decided to keep their children at home.

"No parent will be forced to send their child to school if they are worried about safety at the schools," he said.

The regulations that would pertain to level 3 would see the sale of alcohol allowed, with certain limitations, but the prohibition on the sale of cigarettes would remain in place, said Ramaphosa.

African News Agency