Premier Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo visited Kopela village in Tswaing Local Municipality today following a violent service delivery protest which resulted in 3 schools and a clinic being burnt.
“I was supposed to have gone to Zeerust to address government employees on a national recreation and wellness day celebration but I decided to visit Kopela to personally observe the extent of the damage and to understand what drove the community to resort to burning schools and a clinic.” Mahumapelo said.
Mahumapelo visited the burnt schools and the clinic. The extent of the damage is such that learning and teaching cannot take place in the 3 schools. Similarly, the clinic can no longer serve the community in its current state.
Mahumapelo urged the traditional leadership and community members to cooperate with the MEC for Education and Sport Development when she visits the area for a meeting with parents and stakeholders on Monday in coming up with alternative and interim accommodation for the learners as they are about to commence with the final examinations in the next 3 weeks.
In a move that is characteristic of Mahumapelo’s decisiveness, he set up a committee to immediately meet and emerge with proposals on steps that should be taken to resolve the water situation at Kopela.
The committee comprises of the District Mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema, the Mayor of Tswaing Local Municipality, Councillors, the Chief, representatives of the traditional council and an official from the national department of Water and Sanitation who is based in the province.
As he wrapped up the meeting, Chief Moshoete of Kopela village thanked Mahumapelo for his prompt intervention and for not forsaking the community of Kopela during this difficult time. “ a truly caring leader conducts himself the way you did.” Moshoete said.
Mahumapelo will again visit Kopela village to ensure that the councillors give the community a package of responses to all the issues they raised in a memorandum of demands.
For enquiries, contact
Mr Brian Setswambung
Cell: 076 012 4501
E-mail: bsetswambung@nwpg.gov.za
