The Department of Basic Education has learnt with sadness the reports of attacks on the homes of learners attending the learning camps in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District (JTGD). The department believes that the attack on the home of one of the learners is aimed at intimidating learners and preventing them from participating in the camps set up to assist them with the catch up learning programmes in that district.
The department condemns these attacks with strongest possible terms and regards them as nothing but criminal acts and malicious damage to private property. The department will not be deterred or intimidated from delivering on its mandate and assisting learners to catch up with the curriculum and will continue with its efforts to assist the learner and teachers in the district.
The Olifantshoek police have been notified and the matter is now in their hands for further investigations and we trust that the police will act accordingly to bring those responsible for this heinous crime to book. We also urge the responsible and law abiding citizens to report cases of intimidation and any form of attack on the schools, learners and teachers to the police for action.
For more information:
Panyaza Lesufi, Head of Communications
Cell: 072 148 9575
E-mail: media@dbe.gov.za
