The North West Department of Education is disheartened and shocked to learn that some learners when they arrived at an incubation camp, posed on beds without mattresses to mislead the public as if the Department had not provided the mattresses to the learners at a camp held at Itereleng Skills Training Centre in Vaal Reefs on Sunday, 26 October 2025.
The Department learned about this irresponsible act by learners from social media platforms. The learners are shown sleeping on beds without mattresses.
The North West Department of Education, in its efforts to improve matric results, organized an incubation camp at Vaal Reefs and Itereleng for three schools: Kanana Secondary School, Mathlaleng Secondary School and Mmonkeng Secondary School. The Department has always hosted the incubation camps at the same venue since 2019.
The MEC for the Department of Education, Viola Motsumi condemned the posing of learners on beds without mattresses.
“On behalf of the entire Department, I am extremely disappointed by the irresponsible act committed by some learners who attended the incubation camp at Vaal Reefs. This venue has more than enough mattresses to accommodate all learners from the three schools. I believe this act was aimed at causing a sensation to create fear and anxiety in the parents.
“As we speak now, all learners have slept very well without any inconvenience. I want to sincerely assure parents that their children are safe and well taken care of. They should not panic at all, because the Department is taking good care of them”, said MEC Motsumi.
MEC Motsumi further highlighted that these camps assist learners to avoid distraction which they sometimes experience when they study at home.
Learners are expected to be at the incubation camp until they finish writing all their subjects. Teachers and Subject Specialists of different subjects will be available to assist learners.
For enquiries please contact:
Vuyo Mantshule | Departmental Spokesperson | Cell: 073 217 7335
Elias Malindi | Acting Head of Communication | Cell: 072 892 8399
