/ 13 August 2004

Bloemhof tense after school riot

The situation at Bloemhof is reported to be tense after pupils rampaged through the streets of Boitumelong outside the town in the North West on Thursday, South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news reported on Friday.

Pupils at Thutolore High School on Friday continued with a class boycott, calling for an immediate appointment of a mathematics teacher and the installation of electricity at the school.

Police in riot gear and armoured vehicles were monitoring the situation after the main streets leading into the area were barricaded with burning tyres on Thursday night. Earlier, angry pupils had thrown stones at police vehicles.

Two pupils were arrested and were expected to appear in a local court on charges of public violence, the public broadcaster reported.

It said a meeting between Department of Education officials, police and the school governing body was under way on Friday. — Sapa