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Berig van News24 af. Fokkit mense... WAAR gaan ons land heen? Sangomas disrupt schooling 21/01/2009 22:30 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Learning in Sefikile near Mogwase has been suspended after sangomas planted muti at two schools, the North West education department said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Charles Raseala said irate parents withdrew their children from the schools after five sangomas planted muti at the Makuka Secondary School and Sefikile Primary School on Tuesday.
He said the principals of both schools were not aware that sangomas would "visit" their schools.
"One principal was shocked to see sangomas in the school yard."
He said parents resolved at a meeting on Wednesday that their children would only return to school after a cleansing ceremony had been conducted, and that could take at least a week. It was not clear what the muti consisted of.
"The meeting is underway as we speak... there are conflicting reports that the sangomas were sent by a local councillor, we do not know whether it is a tribal councillor or ward councillor," he said.
He said the incidents were reported to the area project office on Tuesday. The area manager visited the school on Wednesday, where he held a meeting with parents.
Raseala said the sangomas were unable to explain to the principals why they had planted muti at the schools because they spoke Venda.
Acting chairperson of the school governing body, who identified himself as Mr Segonyane, said the matter had been referred to the traditional administration of Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela for intervention.
"The traditional administration has undertaken to conduct a cleansing ceremony on Friday," he said.
- SAPA