ALBERTON – Reports stated that there were about 600 pupils. Police have not confirmed that the students were protesting to receive tablets. The SAPS arrived at the station at about 13:40 to calm the situation, and the pupils departed after 20 minutes.
Some of the students then made their way through Alberton on their way to Thokoza. According to reports a group of about 60 school children made their way through Alberton. They walked from Verwoerd Park towards New Redruth and then on to Thokoza.
Although residents did not report any misbehaviour to Alberton SAPS, the RECORD viewed CCTV footage of a group of about 30 pupils at the gate of
a kindergarten.
According to one of the teachers who was at the school when the students started pulling at their gate, it started with two students who asked for water.
After two received some water, more pupils made their way to the gate and made such a commotion that they decided it would be better to move the kindergarteners to classrooms as they were fearful of the large group pulling on the gates.
The teacher added that a lot of the students looked a lot older than high school students. They pressed the panic button and their security company arrived and asked the pupils to leave. There was no damage to the property, but the kindergarten teacher said that if the students asked in an orderly manner for some water they would have helped them with pleasure, however she describes a scene of pupils being unruly and rowdy, making smaller children uncomfortable.
The pupils told the kindergarten teacher that they were busy striking for iPads.
According to police the group of pupils were escorted home. Alberton SAPS spokesperson said that he is not aware that the students made any trouble
while they were making their way home and that no-one reported anything to the police.
They did however decide to monitor the situation to avoid any problems.
