Vuwani shutdown has far-reaching impact
The Limpopo Government says some 27-thousand learners from 76 schools have been affected by the shutdown in Vuwani.
The province's Executive Committee briefed the media following their latest meeting.
Provincial spokesperson Phuti Seloba says teachers and principals who tried to go to work have been intimidated by protesters.
"Unions and school principals have made an undertaking during our stakeholder engagement session that there be an agreement that learners be allowed to attend classes, then educators and principals will have to go to work, pending further engagement with educators," said Seloba.
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Seloba says this point was raised because learners suffer, while businesses continue to operate over weekends when the shutdown is suspended.
"If you own a shebeen and a tavern, you are not affected by the shutdown. For your active operational period you are safe. If you run a food chain store or a supermarket, you are not affected, because people normally buy their groceries over the weekend," said Seloba.
Residents have again taken to the streets over the newly established municipality with Malamulele, which they do not want to be part of.
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Seloba adds that mobile clinics are unable to reach certain areas in Vuwani.
He says only 15 out of 100 mobile spots are reachable.
Seloba says chronic and mentally-ill patients in the areas where the mobile clinics can't reach, have to visit the nearest clinics for care.
"For the mobile units to go and visit some areas, the roads must be cleared. Protesters keep barricading the roads and throwing stones. We also have colleagues who fear for their safety."