#VuwaniProtests: ‘I feel like my future is going up in flames’

More than 20 schools have been affected by the protests over Vuwani’s inclusion in Malamulele municipality.

JOHANNESBURG - A pupil at one of the schools set alight in Vuwani this afternoon has told Eyewitness News she feels like her future is going up in flames, while a parent says she supports the protest but does not condone the arson attacks.

More schools went up in flames today as a protest against the inclusion of Vuwani in the new Malamulele municipality .

The protests have divided villages in the area, with some supporting the action and others condemning the torching of schools.

LISTEN: Vuwani protesters raze several schools

A pupil joined several other community members as they watched the offices burn at the Mariadze inclusive school with no fire brigade or police in sight.

#Vuwani Another school set alight this afternoon. No authorities in sight, only community members and journalists. pic.twitter.com/RT6nhNVizn — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 5, 2016

"It's so painful because they burnt our school. Where can we go? We are just crying for our future."

A woman says she was born and raised in Vuwani and feels angered by the arson attacks.

"Here in South Africa, if you don't like things you must protest to be heard; but the problem is this thing of burning schools, it's not good. Others say it's not people from around Vuwani. It's people from outside."











Vuwani Vhudzani secondary school is 1 of 17 schools which have been touched by angry community members.

A video posted by Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) on May 4, 2016 at 10:50pm PDT





While som e community members say they'll protect their schools by setting up patrols outside, others have called on police to prevent the violence.

Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma has condemned the destruction.

#PresidencyBudget #Zuma condemns in strongest terms burning of 17 schools in Limpopo - entire nation in shock over this GD — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 5, 2016

The president said there was no grievance that could justify the destruction of property, especially schools, which are meant to help the next generation defeat poverty, inequality and unemployment.

LISTEN: President Zuma condemsn burning of schools at Vuwani

At the same time, police have arrested five people in connection with the burning of the schools in Limpopo.

The police's Malesela Ledwaba says, "The number schools that have been burnt is 18, and five were just damaged. The other thing we can indicate is that we arrested about five suspects, and we are expecting to effect more arrests."

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des Van Rooyen, State Security Minister David Mahlobo and the Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu are inspecting the damage caused in the area, and are expected to brief the media later this evening.