Pupils lock teachers

Out over power cutoff

PUPILS at a high school in Tsolo, Eastern Cape locked their teachers outside the school yesterday over an electricity cutoff.

The Reuben Ntuli Senior Secondary pupils in Tyeni village prevented 16 teachers and government officials from entering the school premises

They vowed they would only open the gates after electricity to the school had been restored.

“We have been asking authorities since February to ensure that electricity is reconnected but it all fell on deaf ears,” said one of the pupils.

The row erupted after the new school, which was handed over to the community in 2014, had its electricity disconnected in January this year after the Independent Development Trust (IDT) failed to pay contractor Swabada Technologies close to R200 000 for electricity installation.

The pupil, who didn’t want to be named, said they would reopen the gates when the power was reconnected.

Hundreds of pupils yesterday chanted revolutionary songs as they demanded electricity.

Reuben Ntuli, which for years had operated from dilapidated prefabs, was reborn in 2014 with a shiny structure that cost R18-million to build.

The pupils said the lack of power at the school affected their studies.

Swabada Technologies owner Siyengo Xaba confirmed he disconnected the electricity.

“It is now three years since I have been waiting to be paid the money owed to me. Then in January I disconnected the electricity.” He said he would reconnect the school when he was paid in full with interest.

School principal Velembo Sigodi said teachers were taken by surprise when they found the school gates closed.

“We understand the plight of the pupils. This also affects us. But I think they should not be interrupting schooling.”

Education spokesman Mali Mtima said the department would take up the matter with IDT.