Limpopo government condemns torching of schools
The Limpopo provincial government says the torching of schools and government offices can never be justified.
The government reacted to violent protests in the areas of Tshitale and Nthabalala since Sunday.
Four buildings, including two schools were set a light by protestors demanding tarred roads.
Twenty three people, including a 16 year-old, have been arrested.
Government spokesperson Phuti Seloba says the torching of buildings cannot be justified as protests, but are just criminal activities.
"It's upon the communities in the area to work with the police in ensuring the speedy arrests of criminal elements which have hijacked their genuine protest," says Seloba.
Seloba says government does not have unlimited resources to repair damaged infrastructure.
"Even if we had we will not priorities infrastructure that was deliberately destroyed by people in the name of peaceful protest," says Seloba.
Seloba says the provincial government is also condemning the use of school children as bargaining tools during community protests.
"The South African Schools Act defines the disruption of schools as a criminal activity and government will not hesitate to open cases with the South African Police Services against community leaders who believes that the strength of protests is dependent on schools disruptions," says Seloba.