The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) says if COVID-19 infections continues to rise the closure of schools may be extended to stop the spread of the pandemic among learners.

The DA’s Dr. Imraan Keeka did however indicate that there was no official communication of the extension.

He was speaking to Radio Islam on Monday following a spate burglaries, vandalism and torching’s of schools and infrastructure.

Schools in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have become easy targets for criminals during the lockdown period imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus.

Keeka says while there are measures in place for the reopening of schools, they have not been well planned for.

“It may very well happen and I am not saying that this is an official position, but should numbers of COVID continue to increase, I am afraid that it may even be possible that there may an extension of the time.”

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to table proposals before Cabinet next week that could drastically change the academic calendar.

Motshekga cited as possibilities the scrapping of the June and September holidays, and moving exams scheduled for November to December to make up for the time lost because of the lockdown.

But she quickly added that these plans were not “concrete”, saying the education sector believed it needed to “do whatever it takes” to salvage this academic year.

Faizel Patel 

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Listen to the interview with Dr. Imran Keeka