TWO women teachers from Dingateng and Mathateng primary schools in Masamane Village, outside Mahikeng, were assaulted allegedly by community members on their way to school.
The teachers, who are aged 27 and 46, were assaulted on Wednesday, 11 October.
The incident follows two months of no schooling in the village due to the allegations of incorrect appointment of the educators' assistants and general assistants at Masamane Primary School.
North West education spokesman, Mphata Molokwane, described the incident as "barbaric".
He explained that the two-month absence of schooling in the village resulted from various issues, including the shortage of water, which affected the flushing of toilets.
"The department had on Monday, 9 October sourced out temporary toilets and filled JoJo tanks with water while the contractor was on sight to install a borehole at the school.
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"On Tuesday, 10 October, the situation returned to normal, but community members barred teachers and pupils from entering the school, got teachers off their transport and started assaulting them," Molokwane said.
Education MEC Viola Motsumi vowed to ensure that the perpetrators face the law.
The provincial Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) condemned the assault.
“Such moral decay must be nipped in the bud before matters get out of hand. Stern action must be taken against anarchists responsible for the violence that has not only undermined the educators’ human rights but their dignity as well,” MRM's Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said.
Kgwele called on communities to protect teachers from opportunistic and disruptive elements that have no interest in their children’s education.
At the moment, Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda Funani could not confirm the case, as she was struggling to reach the acting station commander, whose phone was still on voicemail.
