ENOUGH! - SOME HOSEA RESIDENTS ON SCHOOL RIOTS

NHLANGANO – Some people of Hosea are sick and tired of the constant protests and violence in the area and have called upon pupils to focus on their studies and abandon the protests.

This was during a meeting at the constituency on Saturday. The meeting was held some residents of Hosea and it was meant to map a way forward in as far as protesting for the release of their incarcerated Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and other issues that included the recent protests by pupils.  Mabuza was arrested together with Ngwemphisi MP Mthandeni Dube. The pupils are those attending school at Hosea High and Ngozi Secondary, who are residents of Hosea. This follows protests that saw the schools and other neighbouring schools being closed last week because of the protests. The pupils were protesting for the release of the arrested MPs. In the meeting, attended by some pupils and the youth from of the seven communities making up Hosea, it was said that they were not wrong to voice out their grievances but education was equally important. They were told that if they wanted to join protests, they could do so only on weekends.

“Hosea has always had a number of university students each year and that cannot stop with you,” said one of the speakers. The residents stated that it was their battle, adding that they were only going to join it once they finished school. The Indvuna of Hosea Richard Vilane, who was also part of the meeting, stated that they did not want the pupils left out from their schoolwork because this would mean they were grooming thieves who would rob them in future. In an interview, he stated that as the current political leader of the constituency, amid the arrest of MP Mabuza, he saw it proper to call the pupils to order. “As a person who knows Mabuza well, I am certain he would have said the same,” Vilane said. The residents, however, stated that having talked to the pupils, they were not expecting the police to arrest anyone.

When reached for comment, Deputy Regional Education Officer Sibongile Zwane said they were happy to learn that residents were also of the view that the education of pupils was important. She shared that a report sent by Hosea head teacher, stated that a parent volunteered to personally stay at the school to guard who exactly was behind the protests. “We appreciate the parents and we wish more could do the same,” she added.

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