WATCH: Olievenhoutbosch residents torch Centurion school to protest evictions

The residents took to the street on Friday morning, burnt tyres and blocked off some of the main roads, including the N14 highway.

Greenhill GB Primary School's principal Jackson Ssemambo says the school has been receiving threats since last year. 

"This started last year, there has been a number of protests here because of the situation that has taken place in this area, there is a land invasion.

"So it started last year in September when there were evictions, much of the evictions happened around the school premises.

"So when it happened that way, it sent a picture to the community that maybe the school is involved in the evictions.

"Rumours have been going around that the eviction that happened in the first place was authorised by the school, we ignore that because we had nothing to do with the eviction.

"The activities continued again last year, after the eviction, people came back and set up the shacks, and this time around was done on a very large scale."

He adds: "It has affected us so much because most of the shacks have been put in front of the school, the school ground has been taken over and most of the land that is being occupied belongs to the school."

Ssemambo says the protestors caused massive damage to the school's property.

"The school front gate has been smashed, the back of the school fence has also been broken into and the whole fence is down.

"The school tuck shop which accommodated things that children eat at the school, there were fridges in there, uniforms and it is totally burnt down to ashes.

"The computer class was also broken into, computers were stolen, and two cars have been smashed.

"The school eclectic supply from Eskom was cut off, which means everything at the school connected to electricity including cameras has been disconnected."

He says the police have been aware of the threats since last year, and several cases were opened but nothing was done.

"We have been in touch with SAPS as from last year, we have opened trespassing cases even when the people started trespassing on the school lines.

"We have done so many engagements and we feel like we have been abandoned, with so many communication, engagements, so many emails being written, we have even spoken to the station commander.

"We have given them information that we have been getting, of which is not acted on, we feel abandoned and we are so disappointed with what has happened today." 

Ssemambo says pupils have not been at school since Tuesday due to the threats. 

The principal hopes to open for teaching and learning on Wednesday next week.