Pupils of Roodepoort Primary were faced with locked gates this morning after Member of the Execitive Council (MEC) for Education Panyaza Lesufi announced the school’s closure on Friday.
But the community is not taking it lying down though. Parents dressed their children in their uniforms and the pupils gathered with placards in front of the locked gates while chanting “we want our school open!”.
Meanwhile a few dozen police had their hands full trying to contain the irate parents and community members.
One black parent Jacob Rapetswa told the Record the coloured and black parents are in solidarity with each other and it is not a race issue.
“They should open the school immediately so our children can be educated. While it is business as usual they can sort out this nonsense,” said Rapetswa. Other parents voiced his sentiments.
Community leader Theo van Rensburg said it is a peaceful protest but at 10am this morning the community will march from Davidsonville to the Gauteng Education Department’s (GED) district offices in Florida to support their teachers and prevent them from being victimised.
Another parent, Ronsley Mitchell wanted to know why DA councillor for the area, Gert Niemand was absent during the unfolding of the drama.
“We have been voting for the DA since 1994 but they do nothing for us,” said Mitchell. He denied rumours that the community was going to burn down the school and clinic over the weekend.
“This whole thing is political. The ANC is angry at us for never voting for them. It is them spreading these rumours,” said Mitchell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB3SuFy_nWU&feature=youtu.be
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