Order restored at Naphakade

By Ofentse Mokae
19 April 2010

Following a week of violent protests and destruction of school’s building, order has been restored at Naphakade high school in Malmesbury in the Swartland.

Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant says teaching has resumed at the troubled School.

Pupils at the school went on the rampage last week setting fire to classrooms and clashing with police.

They were protesting over what they call overcrowding at the school.

During his visit today at the school for assessment Grant said the entire school will by next year be fully relocated to another area not far from where it is currently situated.

Reports learners can expect a new school which hopefully will have enough space to accommodate every one, however in the meantime mobile classes would be brought in.

“The WCED has worked hard over the weekend to ensure that learning continues in a safe environment and to deliver on our commitment to ensure that the school is relocated to an alternative site,” Grant said.

He said that over the weekend officials from the education department and teachers from the school successfully removed the damaged mobiles from the site in preparation for the return of learners at the school today.

This included debris from three classrooms and two ablution facilities.

The land is currently being prepared for construction.

About 10-15 mobiles will be erected, and provision will also be made for administration and ablution facilities.

This will be a temporary site until the new high school is constructed, which is due for completion in 2011.