Umtshezi community want school feeding scheme reviewed
The Steering Committee in the community of Umtshezi in Estcourt has vowed schools will stay closed until their grievances have been addressed.
Eight schools in the area have been shut for nearly two weeks now.
Residents want the contractors for the government's schools feeding scheme removed, they want locals to be the service providers.
This committee member has told Newswatch corruption is rife in the schools there, adding officials pay no attention to them because they're in rural areas.
"We wish to confirm that schools will be closed until this problem is sorted out. We are also willing as a society to bring our learners back to school. At the same time, we are not in a position to compromise where we can take our learners back to school where the situation is not good," he said.
This Grade 8 learner at Njeza High School says she's worried they won't cope with exams.
"I don't want to stay at home anymore. Us learners will suffer most because of this, especially matrics. We could fail at the end of the year," she said.
(Photos: Anelisa Kubheka)