Mthatha’s Efata School for the Blind and Deaf, which has been at the centre of the town’s much-publicised extortion problems, was closed on Wednesday and pupils were sent home.
This came after a TLB used to erect sewerage ponds was torched on Tuesday afternoon by unknown arsonists following incidents of extortion where people demanded protection fees totalling R100,000 from the school and R15,000 from the construction company.
Several parents were seen fetching their children from the school.
“We cannot have our children die here, they are safer at home than here,” a parent, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said.
“This place is now life-threatening, we rather remove them while they are still alive and walking instead of removing them in body bags and coffins. This is scary.
“These thugs mean business and disregard human life as long as they will have access to the protection fee, they are heartless.”
Teachers and labour unions held a crisis meeting later to craft a way forward.
Shortly after the meeting, the school management met education department officials.
WATCH | A tractor-loader backhoe (TLB) belonging to a construction company building sewage infrastructure at Efata School for the Deaf and Blind in Mthatha was torched by unknown arsonists on Tuesday afternoon. The incident follows reports of an extortion demand for protection money. Parents have begun withdrawing their children from the school, fearing for their safety. Video: LULAMILE FENI
Posted by Daily Dispatch on Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Police photographers took pictures of the crime scene and interviewed people.
The school management, education officials and construction workers declined to comment.
Education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said he could only comment after the meeting at the school.
In a statement at the weekend, education MEC Fundile Gade confirmed that on Tuesday night last week, armed extortionists went to one of the houses on the school premises demanding R50,000 from a male nurse.
Two days later, the school principal received a voicemail demanding R50,000 and was given until Thursday this week.
This is a developing story.
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.