Group threatens to burn down creche

MATIBIDI – A school principal fears for her life and the safety of 150 pupils in her care at Remmogo School.

This follows after a group, identified as local ANC members, allegedly threatened to burn down the school last week.

This is the second time threats of this nature had been made after the DA contributed to the upgrade and expansion of facilities at the school.

According to the principal, Ms Connie Mashego, a Kombi filled with people arrived at the school at approximately 23:30 on Monday. The security guard on duty alerted Mashego, who in turn called the local police. Reports indicate that the group became aggressive, shouted offensive remarks and threatened to burn down the facility. Apparently they said that the DA equalled apartheid. It was only after police intervention that the crisis was averted.

DA councillor, Mr Johan Ligthelm stated that the crèche and preschool were open to all the children of Matibidi, regardless of their families’ political affiliation.

“It is thus truly disheartening to even imagine that the future of innocent children could be jeopardised in an effort by members of the ruling party to intimidate the DA,” he said.

The provincial DA will direct a letter to provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Thulani Ntobela, notifying him of the threat and asking him to place Matibidi SAPS on high alert. “We also call on members of the ANC to carry out their election campaign in a democratic manner and not to use violence to cling to power,” Ligthelm said.

In the meantime, Mashego says she fears for her own safety. “Remmogo is a community project which started 22 years ago when the chief donated the property for a school. The DA assisted with expanding it, but so could the ANC if it wanted to contribute to the project,” she said.

This is the second incident of intimidation of this kind related to the school. The other occurred in January before the reopening, which was attended by Ms Helen Zille.