24 May 2006
The Gauteng MEC for Education Angie Motshekga has condemned attempts by the
Congress of South African Students (COSAS) to disrupt schooling in the Gauteng
province. Since the beginning of this week, members of Cosas have been
disrupting schools demanding to meet the MEC to discuss matters related to
scholar transport.
Today, Cosas members disrupted schools in Doornkop as well as parts of
Soweto. Yesterday, Cosas members disrupted schools in Kwa Thema, Tsakane and
Etwatwa they later converged at Gandhi Square in Johannesburg were they handed
a memorandum to the office of the MEC.
âThis kind of behaviour can not be tolerated especially during this
sensitive stage of our academic calendar,â said Motshekga.
The Department has always been willing to meet with Cosas and indeed the MEC
has agreed to meet with them on Tuesday, 30 May 2006, but Cosas claims the date
is too far.
The Department has now reluctantly agreed to meet with Cosas tomorrow,
Thursday, 25 May 2006, to establish reasons behind their irresponsible
actions.
The Department is also saddened by the disruption of schools in Mamelodi
yesterday. Learners went on the rampage demanding that police take action
against an alleged rapist. âWe call upon these learners to refrain from taking
this kind of action,â said Motshekga.
The Gauteng Department of Education has also adopted an open minded approach
to the ruling by the Pretoria High Court requesting Motshekga to pay the father
of a son who got injured in one of our schools in Pretoria. âWe will apply our
mind to the ruling and thereafter exercise our options fully,â said the
MEC.
For more information contact:
Panyaza Lesufi
Cell: 083 256 7933
Issued by: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government
24 May 2006
