Schooling and most activities have been suspended for a third day in Itsoseng near Mahikeng in the North West. Residents have vowed to continue their shutdown until Premier Supra Mahumapelo is removed from power.
“You see that children have been returned home from school and they are falling behind. The next thing they are going to be left to go to higher grades without passing,” says a parent.
“This term is too short from the other terms and my school work will be behind and I am not sure I will achieve my goals,” adds a learner.
In Taung, the planned march was abandoned because in some areas, residents had become violent and started attacking local businesses. They also engaged in running battles with police, who fired at the protesters.
In Mahikeng the situation is calm, although pupils had been asked to return home.
Few essential services are operating and most shops remain closed.
Some workers stayed home, while some say they cannot afford to stay away from work.
“There is no service delivery here. It’s always empty promises. When they need our votes they do that and then they go,” says a worker.
“When you go to work the community thinks you are not with them and when you don’t go to work they dock about R350 per day from your salary,” adds another worker.
The community intend to maintain their shutdown until President Cyril Ramaphosa heeds their call to unseat the premier.
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