Tshwane protests disrupt school exams
The violent unrest that has gripped Tshwane has disrupted schooling, including mid-year examinations, the Gauteng education department said on Wednesday.
"Mid-year examinations for part time Senior Certificate candidates were affected by the protests. We have engaged the Department of Basic Education and a decision will be made on when the backup papers would be written. Backup papers have been prepared for such eventualities," said spokesman Oupa Bodibe.
Regarding examinations for other grades, Bodibe said the districts, in collaboration with principals would discuss the revision of the timetable to accommodate affected examination subjects.
Violence broke out three days ago with roads blocked, buses burnt out and shops looted in Tshwane townships such as Atteridgeville, Mamelodi, GaRankuwa and Hammanskraal. Protesters were against the selection of ANC MP Thoko Didiza as the mayoral candidate for the metro.
The townships were calm on Wednesday, although several foreign owned shops were reportedly looted overnight. The violence had spread to Mabopane where local spaza shops were stormed and looted. Police confirmed that two people were shot and killed in Mamelodi overnight, where foreign owned shops were also targeted.
The two were allegedly part of a mob attempting to rob a Pakistani owned shop in the area.
Bodibe said the department was working closely with the police to monitor schools in the province.
"Our school patrollers have also been instructed to be vigilant and report instantly to the principals any suspicious activities around the schools during the day and night. We would like to make an appeal to community members and school governing bodies to assist the department in safeguarding our schools, so that the future of our learners is not placed in jeopardy." - ANA