29 Jan 2018

Things have settled down at Makhubu Junior Secondary School in Selebi Phikwe after allegations of satanism rocked the school on January 23 forcing classes to be abandoned and the school to temporarily close down.

After a prayer session to rebuke the alleged ‘evil’ at the school was held and a meeting attended by the town’s leadership, civil servants and the community had taken place, Assistant Minister of Basic Education Mr Moiserale Goya visited the school later on that day accompanied by permanent secretary in the ministry Ms Grace Muzila.

His visit was to ensure that the myth about snakes connected to satanism at the school had been clarified and settled accordingly by local authorities, church leaders, school’s staff and the community in general. Also the visit was to make sure that children at the school resumed classes amicably and make up for the three days of schooling lost due to the uproar that took place when the satanism allegations surfaced.

Mr Goya urged the school to uphold its good reputation and academic performance and the public not to tarnish the good reputation of the school. Permanent Secretary Muzila encouraged students to focus on their studies and not be disturbed by the satanism scare. She said counselling would be availed for students at the school.
Meanwhile during the prayer session and meeting that took place earlier on Thursday at the school, parents, students and the community were informed that the reports of satanism were just a misconception.

Mr Sonny Mooketsi who is the Central Region education officer indicated that investigations had been done and what was revealed was that when the security guard at the school was on his usual daily patrol inspecting the school premises early in the morning of January 23, he came across a snake and tried to kill it. However, the snake managed to escape to a nearby stack of bricks used for construction or maintenance at the school.

The security guard could not do anything about it, but waited until school resumed where he called on the school head and informed her about what transpired so that she could advise, inform and warn students to move with caution around the area where the bricks were located in the school.

He said it is not understood how the negative information about snakes connected to satanism and allegations of the school head being associated with the said snakes went out to the community and ultimately caused an uproar. Further, he said they do not understand why the rumour that a student who died earlier on after a snake bite at their home and not at the school is associated with satanism and the school head.

He mentioned that the new school head was transferred from Tonota to Makhubu Junior Secondary School in Selebi Phikwe recently in January and issues such as the death of a student due to snake bite took place when she was not around.

He went on to note that according to the background check, investigations and information they have about the new school head from Tonota, there were no stories, issues or allegations of evil and satanism associated or connected to her from the school she used to head in Tonota as alluded by some people in the community.

In all this, he explained that all information and myths being sent out to the public about satanism and ‘evil’ snakes at Makhubu Junior Secondary School as well as the schol head being vindicated as a satanist who has evil powers and possess snakes was wrong, false and unfortunate.

The mayor of Selebi Phikwe Mr Molosiwa Molosiwa called on the community to calm down and look at the issue on factual manner and not draw conclusions on myths being spread around by negative mind-sets.  He also encouraged the school to continue with its obligation of producing good results and students to go back to classes and do their best. Ends