25 Feb 2021

The spiraling COVID-19 cases in Mmadinare Cluster schools has been attributed to non-compliance to COVID-19 protocols.

Dr Nhlahla Rabanyana told a Mmadinare Village Operation Emergency Centre committee (VEOC) meeting on Tuesday  that learners were more affected than parents who stayed at home.

He stated that the cluster was sitting at 542 cumulative, 160 active, 379 recoveries and three deaths.

He said Mmadinare Senior Secondary School accounted for 76 of the active cases, all of them learners.

Dr Rabanyana blamed lack of social distancing and failure to wear of masks at school for the increasing numbers.

School head Ms Josphine Madikwe acknowledged that pupils disregarded the seriousness of COVID-19.

She said it had been discovered that COVID-19 affected mostly boys because they smoked and shared cigarettes.

Such behavior, she said, mostly happened on weekends when teachers were away.

Ms Madikwe stated that pupils observed social distancing in the classroom because chairs and desks were preset.

Outside the classroom they would choose to share a bed or crowd over ‘mhele’, a traditional game akin to chess.

She said another contributing factor to the spreading of the virus was the fact that boys liked to share clothes.

In an effort to address the situation, Ms Madikwe said the school management had suggested fining pupils who violated health protocols.

Ms Madikwe suggested that Ipelegeng workers or Scorpions be engaged at the school hostels to keep an eye on pupils.

Mmadinare Police Station commander, Assistant Superintendent Tiro Dikgang stated that most people were reluctant to wear masks but and only did so when the police were nearby. 

Children walked in groups from school only to disperse when the police were in sight, he said. ENDS