By Nothando Makhubela
Grade 12 learners in some parts of KwaGuqa township in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga have missed their Maths 2 paper as a result of a protest over electricity.
Learners from the secondary schools in Zacheus Malaza, Philiph Ndimande, DM Motsaosele, and FH Mkhabela high schools, as well as learners who live in the area but attend schools in towns, could not write the exams.
The protest started early in the morning with residents blocking roads in all extensions at the N4 highway, Vosman, KG Mall, Hlalanikahle, and Ezinambeni.
A bakkie with exam papers was turned away by angry residents.
The residents are demanding electricity after some areas in Emalahleni have not had electricity for three weeks as a result of copper cable theft.
The Emalahleni Local Municipality told residents that it will take them 16 weeks to have the cables replaced.
A grade 12 learner told Scrolla.Africa she was very unhappy when she heard about the protest.
“I went to school taking shortcuts but I couldn’t write because the examination question papers did not arrive. We were asked to leave our examination rooms at 12 today,” she said.
“It’s even more sad because the people who are protesting are our parents.”
Resident David Khoza from Ezinambeni said: “The municipality was not supposed to let this electricity issue go this far. It is a pity that learners didn’t go to school today.”
He said it’s a struggle to live without electricity.
“We are not prepared to spend Christmas without electricity,” he said.
Department of Education spokesperson Gerald Sambo said they are still waiting to get confirmation about how many learners were affected by the protest.
“We can’t comment much as a department at the moment,” he said.
The department announced on Friday that about 39,665 grade 12 learners will write the mathematics examination in the province.
Pictured above: Emalahleni residents blocked the N4 highway road protesting over electricity
Source: Supplied
