The MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Senzo Mchunu, together with the Head of Department, Nkosinathi SP Sishi (PhD), held a meeting with the Hopewell Community in the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg. The main aim of the meeting was to face head on the problems that are faced by Umlulama High School, which is the only high school in the area of Hopewell.
Umlulama High School had a number of incidents which had landed it in various negative news headlines. These incidents involve violence and drug abuse by learners. Before the MEC called a community meeting, he first engaged with all stakeholders where he found that the community itself was also the cause of the problems faced by Umlulama High School.
All stakeholders together with the MEC agreed that the Hopewell Community is faced with a very big problem which has divided the community. Mr Dumisani Kheswa, the acting principal, stated that these incidents started in 2007 with the stabbing of one pupil, which caused a string of violence amongst learners all in name of vengeance.
MEC Senzo Mchunu, Inkosi Thamsanqa Mkhize, member of the SAPS, Thandi Mlangeni & acting Principal Dumisani Kheswa during the meeting.
After engaging with stakeholders, the MEC then called a community meeting where he stated that "If this is the case, it is evident that this community itself is problematic and we must hold a meeting with all community members in order for us to resolve this issue".
On Friday, 03 May 2013, the MEC held a mass meeting with the community where he said the reason for the meeting was to tackle the many issues faced by the school, which have also been a major cause for its very bad performance in matric results.
"These problems have seen the school unable to reach the 60% pass rate from the year 2007. As the leadership of this department, we cannot allow this situation to continue," said the MEC.
The Inkosi of Hopewell community, Thamsanqa Mkhize, who was part of this community meeting that, included the Department of Community Safety and Liaison as well as SAPS, conveyed his disappointment with the situation at Umlulama High School.
"I am saddened by the things that are happening in this area. What saddens me even most is that this school is named after my great grandparent and this is the name that you want to destroy," said the livid Inkosi Mkhize.
After the members of community, community leaders, members of parliament and learners had all spoken, the MEC then gave his marching orders. The MEC instructed community leaders to meet and come up with a plan to resolve the situation within five days. He also instructed the School Governing Body members to do the same.
"We have agreed with the South African Police Services that they are going to use their Sector Policing programme to increase the number of police in the area and are going to ensure that Umlulama is closely monitored by the police," he said.
The MEC promised that he and the Head of Department are going to visit the school shortly to read a riot act to all learners. He said they are going to ensure that each and every learner signs a strict Code of Conduct so that anyone who deviates faces the consequences. "We are also going to meet with teachers because we feel that they have been grossly affected by the environment in which they teach," concluded the MEC.
