Unrest in Olifantshoek started on 29 May 2012. The reason for the unrest was the demand for the resignation of the Mayor of the Gamagara Municipality. In this instance, two primary schools and one high school, with a total learner population of 2 583, were severely affected. Protest actions later spread to other areas in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District. Schools around Cassel, Bothithong, Loopeng, Tsineng and Laxey were also disrupted, albeit varying from school to school and from village to village. Since 6 June 2012, 59 schools in these areas were affected by service delivery protests, the main reason being demands for access roads. High levels of intimidation made it difficult for the Department to intervene successfully in some of these areas.