JOHANNESBURG, 15 January 2021 – State-run schools in South Africa will not reopen for another two weeks as the country battles a second wave of the new coronavirus.
Schools will now resume next February 15.
Dep. Basic Education Min. Reginah Mhaule
The revised reopening date was announced Friday by Deputy Basic Education Minister Reginah Mhaule.
News that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga was on sick leave Friday has sparked speculation that she may be down with COVID-19.
In response to questions on her boss’s health, Mhaule answered:
“The minister is home. she is fine, when we speak to her she is fine. I don’t know about the COVID status but she is recovering at home and will be back next week”.
With management and funding responsibility for 23,000 public schools, the South African government is the most important investor in education in the country.
About 2,000 of South Africa’s schools are managed by private investors and religious groups.
South Africa’s student population is 12-million-strong.
