I humbly take my hat off to Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, who took a bold and unpopular decision and exhibited what I
would call unprecedented leadership at a time when many would have cowered.
Lesufi told the pupils of Orlando High School in Soweto in no uncertain terms that, ‘if you trash it, you fix it’ when the pupils invaded the historic school and trashed it before ransacking the principal’s office and turning it upside down. The pupils vandalised the admin building, destroyed academic records, broke windows and stole school property, laptops and kitchen appliances and accused the principal, Peter Nhlapo, of maltreating pupils and teachers.
Lesufi was quite frank and candid with both the vandals and their parents that he was not going to fix the school for them. “I am not going to take taxpayers’ money meant for other schools and divert it to your school to fix the mess you deliberately created. I am not going to pay to fix it. You broke it, and so you must fix it. Those vandals must take responsibility and clean up the mess. I am not going to divert money meant for other schools and bring it here, where you don’t appreciate it,” said the straight-talking MEC who fears no election as some leaders tend to do.
“Those responsible for the vandalism here will be served with suspension notices and the teachers that might be involved in this will be brought to book.”
I commend Lesufi for taking this radical stance in the face of an election. Yes, Mr MEC, you’re 100 percent correct and to the point. If anyone vandalises public property, they should be held accountable – and not only be charged but also ordered to clean up their mess and fix the wrongs they committed.
The cowards of Vuwani, who feared losing voters as municipal elections are just around the corner, decided to appease their voters by delivering mobile classrooms the day after their act of vandalism, instead of ordering them to fix their mess.
This is the only way the fools of Vuwani and Soweto can learn to appreciate, respect and, not only protect, but jealously guard, public infrastructure and institutions. It’s high time that people know that if they burn, destroy and harm public infrastructure, that they will have to clean up their mess.
Thank you so much, Mr Lesufi for not taking a leaf from the book of your fellow comrades who cowered from firing President Jacob Zuma when he blatantly ignored our Constitution, as they feared the forthcoming municipal elections.
Lesufi for president!
