The North West Department of Education labelled the videos as misleading, and fabricated on Tuesday, 28 October 2025. The learners are shown sleeping on beds directly without mattresses.
In response to the video of learners at a camp held at Itereleng Skills Training Centre in Vaal Reefs, the department released a statement confirming that they have learnt about “this irresponsible act” posed by pupils from the social media platforms.
“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 North West Department of Education in its efforts of improving the matric results organized an incubation camp at Vaal Reefs and Itereleng for three schools namely; Kanana Secondary School, Mathlaleng Secondary School and Mmonkeng Secondary Schools. 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, l 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 Motsumi.
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.
The department has faced backlash after a video showing pupils from two Kanana schools living in deplorable conditions during an exam preparation camp near Orkney, outside Klerksdorp.
On Monday, 27 October 2025, pupils from Mmokeng and Matlhaleng Secondary Schools indicated that they are sleeping on steel structures and makeshift bedding inside the Itireleng Training Centre at Vaal Reefs Shaft 1.
In response to the video circulating online, Mbuso Maanagement Solutions CEO Daddy Khuselo indicated that he started managing Itireleng Hostel turned into a Learning and Manufacturing Hub in 2018 from a mining house. He indicated that he took over the centre in effort to give back to his community and making a contribution to his home town.
Khuselo said according to QS reports the centre required millions to be fixed , repaired and bring to a state of habitability.
“I did not have that kind of money, I tried banks and financial institutions and none came on board.
“I used my own funds and earnings, spoke to a few friends who also contributed, I even took a second bond on my house to fund this, I also borrowed money from caring people, some of my engineer friends did work for me at risk, I used my business acumen and professional networks to secure markets and additional resources to get going, tough as it was and still is for me and my family,” said Khuselo.
“Our very first client of Itireleng was the NW Department of Education (NWDoE) in 2019, we hosted 1300 Grade 12s from 10 High Schools, a very difficult start as it was the first time the building hosted people after many years of abandonment, however all those schools drastically improved their results to the point where the North West achieved no 3 position country wide.”
“Over the years Itireleng has risen in prominence, we have established factories that hire local people mostly, trained women who currently run operations including a textile factory producing uniforms and industrial wear, we have attracted various SETAs, the National Skills Fund, the Industrial Development Corporation, DEDECT NW, multinationals such as Microsoft SA amongst others who are contributing towards building the human capital of the North West at large because Itireleng is no longer touching Klerksdorp people only, but the entire North West and some parts of the country.”
Khusela indicated on his response that doing business with the department has been an uneasy process.
“I have continued to be of assistance and in business to the NWDoE for years now, it has not always been rosy, but due to my passion for education I have always offset some issues that could have been explosive in nature, but we always found each other because professionals do not fight publicly but find ways to resolve matters amicably.
“Back in 2023, Itireleng had reached maturity state, most if not all infrastructure problems had been repaired, it had become a City on its own, well resourced and functioning like a well oil machine.”
In 2023, the centre had over 600 matriculants from four high schools. The hosted pupils allegedly destroyed the infrastructure in their last week before they leave the centre.
“…some learners started breaking down some sections of the building at a significant cost, working with the department a decision was taken to end the camps a week before scheduled time, I have an official report compiled by the department detailing the damages in this regard.
“I told the department I will not fix the damages caused by their learners with my own funds, they must pay for those items. From that time there has been an ongoing legal battle between my company and the NWDoE over the matter and some other items I may not disclose here for confidentiality purposes.”
Khusela indicated that he has received a settlement offer from the department three months ago.
“Finally 3 months ago, a settlement offer was presented to me by the department and even though I didnt agree with it, I accepted it all because I am tired, drained and badly affected by the protracted legal battle.
“Both parties agreed to try salvage the relationship for the benefit of the learners in DRKK.”
In a social media post, Khusela wrote: “During these negotiations, I reminded the department of the damages caused by their learners then, I even presented a quote showing the cost of those repairs, and all I wanted is for the department to settle the outstanding money from 2023 so that I can even prepare for the coming of the learners, none of that happened.
“Despite all that, we spent resources to prepare for the coming of the learners, mind you we could only do this over the weekend, literally one Saturday ONLY as learners arrived this past Sunday.”
Responding to some of the pictures that have been circulating on social media, Khusela said they are not a true reflection of the state of the centre.
“So, the pictures that have been circulating are not a true reflection of the context, background and current reality, some are staged, some are irrelevant to the program and some taken illegally. What is shown is selective, there are approximately 450 learners on site, where is the rest of the 11000 sqm building occupied by other learners? Where are the exam rooms?
“Are there areas to be fixed, YES of course and now you know the factual background. We are doing it out of our professional integrity, not because of anyone coercing us from the outside.”
