A sheriff of the court’s task to remove computers from the Masedi Combined School in Tshikota met with severe resistance on Tuesday when learners put their pens down and barricaded the exit of the school yard.

From what could be established, Ms Edzani Margareth Sekole had earlier obtained a court interdict to collect 20 computers from the Masedi Combined School. This follows a dispute over payment of a training contract.

When the sheriff of the court arrived at the school premises on Tuesday, he allegedly instructed the school principal, Mr Silas Makwathani, to hand over the computers within 20 minutes. The security gate and door to the computer room were then forcefully broken.

The school principal disputed the fact that the contract with Ms Sekole’s company had not been honoured. According to Mr Makwathani, the students paid R100 each for the computer lessons and were determined to get value for their money. “We entered into an agreement with the Excellence Varsity and Training College to offer a computer course, following a proposal made in May this year. Now it seems as if there is fighting between the directors of the closed corporation and we have been dragged into the fight. According to the agreement, Excellence Varsity and Training College needed a minimum of 500 registered learners. Only about 250 learners regis-tered, because they came with their proposal halfway through the year. We then negotiated with them to continue offering the computer courses, as we are confident of reaching the 500 student target next year after discussions with the parents,” said Makwathani.

In the discussions following the sheriff’s visit on Tuesday, allegations were also made that the college had not paid the computer trainer, Ms Tshilidzi Motau. Ms Motau said she had not been paid since May this year. “When I inquired about my salary, they told me that they were still fighting amongst each other. They are owing me R8 000 thus far. I have four children who are expecting to get food and clothes from me”, said the widow.

When asked for comment, the woman who applied for the interdict against the Masedi Combined School, Ms Edzani Margareth Sekole, said she didn´t have time to speak to stupid journalists. Her husband, Mr Derrick Sekole, also refused to comment and referred the media to the police.

After the sheriff had loaded the computers into the cars, the learners of Masedi decided to barricade the exit. They put stones, wood and other objects in front of the gate to prevent the sheriff from leaving with the computers. The sheriff had no other option than to offload the computers and put them back in the computer classroom.

Masedi’s learners insisted that the computers be reconnected so that tuition could continue. They also demanded that the security gate and door be replaced. The sheriff’s team obliged and they were then allowed to leave the premises.