Worry as KZN schools remain closed for almost two weeks
At least eight schools, including four primary schools have been closed for nearly two weeks now in the Umtshezi area, near Estcourt in the Midlands.
A local steering committee heading the closures is calling for the removal of non-local contractors in the schools' feeding programmes.
Children in this rural area are herding cattle and playing in the street while their peers in schools 30 minutes away forge ahead with the term's syllabus.
Residents say a protest broke out in the area last Monday with people preventing teachers and pupils from entering the eight schools.
Speaking to residents near Njeza High School, Newswatch has learnt there are also allegations that these contractors had been at times serving expired food to the children.
On Monday, the Department of Education was locked in a meeting with the steering committee to try resolve the matter however, no agreement was reached.
Residents say there's another scheduled for today.
(Above: Njeza High, eSiphiwo Primary School pupils)
(Photos, video by Anelisa Kubheka)