The traditional leader of Mafukani village, Vhamusanda Vho-Ndileni Nemafukani has confirmed that the learners who blocked roads off with burning tyres last Thursday (25 August), were angry with him for clamping down on drug suppliers in and around Matavhela Secondary School.
This came after Nemafukani was alerted by members of the community that certain spaza shops were selling ganja and mbanzhe to learners at the school. "When I heard this, I summoned all the spaza shop owners to report to my place, and they did. I told all of them about my concerns around drugs being sold to learners, and warned them of the consequences, should they continue to sell ganja to school children. After consulting with the traditional council in the village, we agreed that spaza shop owners must stop selling anything and first reapply for their licenses to sell their products in the village. Especially the spaza shops next to the school. This strategy is to catch the culprits out," Nemafukani said.
According to the chairperson of Matavhela's school governing body (SGB), Mr Rendani Madamalala, the rampage started after a learner was found with dagga at the school. He was interviewed on Monday, 29 August, shortly after a meeting with the school principal, the SGB and Vhamusanda Vho-Nemafukani.
Madamalala said that, after it was reported that learners were using drugs at the school, the principal called a security company in to search learners at the gate. One of the students was caught with ganja. "When they tried to take him away, the other students started protesting, pelting the security company's car with stones and breaking the window. They went on a rampage, blocking the road off with burning tyres. But we are happy that we are managing the situation at the moment," he said.
When asked if spaza shop owners were reapplying for their trading licenses, he said that more than 80% had already reapplied by Monday afternoon.
On the question of whether they had identified those who were selling drugs to the children, he said that they had. "We have identified all of them, and we will do everything in our power to protect our kids from drug dealers. We are talking about our kids here, and no-one will exploit them on our watch. Over our dead bodies," he added.
When asked how he felt about the school's being linked with drugs, he replied: "We are very ashamed about this incident and hope it will never happen again," he said.
The school principal, Mr Amon Nephalama, refused to comment, referring the media to the Department of Education for comment on the situation.
The police said they had gone to the school and managed to diffuse the situation, but neither the school nor the security company opened a case.