Update: Roodepoort Primary closed, residents outraged

A minority will not tell the majority what to do.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura and the Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, on Friday issued an ultimatum to the Davidsonville community and this morning closed Roodepoort Primary.

Residents from Sol Plaatjies, Durban Deep and Matholliesville were bused in to Davidsonville on Friday night and the marquee tent was filled to capacity. There were strong racial and political undertones at the meeting as many came in political attire, chanted and toyi-toyi’d outside the tent. Tempers flared up between the two factions that were clearly divided along racial lines and political affiliations. Although racial tension was denied during the week, all coloured members of the community the Record spoke to expressed their dismay and anger at what they feel are bullying from the government and the ‘black faction’. Their biggest grievance is the fact that a black principal is ‘forced upon them’ and that they ‘cannot exercise their democratic right to govern their community as they see fit’.

At a meeting earlier this week they were allegedly told ‘a minority will not tell the majority what to do’. This sentiment was expressed again by both the MEC and the Premier on Friday night.

“I come with a sjambok,” said Makhura during his fiery address. “We will not allow disruption of education. No one will hold the education of our children to ransom. No amount of howling or trying to bomb the office of the principle is going to stop the education of our children,” he said to the cheering majority in the tent while the coloured parents booed. “On Monday we will close down the school,” he warned. He also told the crowd “they are few and we are many”.

Listen to Premier's speech that outraged parents by Roodepoort Record

The conditions of Makhura’s ultimatum were that all 1 200 pupils had to be at school this morning and that no further incident must occur. If these terms would not be met the school would be closed until peace is mediated.

As the dignitaries started leaving the stage, a minor scuffle broke out between some community members and the police as they tried to confront the Premier and the MEC.

It is unclear what drove the MEC to follow through on his threats but this morning the school was closed and some of the pupils were bused to neighbouring schools. The Davidsonville community though refused to let their children on the buses insisting they be taught at Roodepoort Primary. They hurled insults and without exception those who spoke to the Record said they will not be marginalised and will not allow the school to be closed. Black parents on the other hand was upset that they were not informed to which schools their children were taken and that fact that they did not sign any indemnity forms to approve it.

During an impromptu speech in front of the school, an Eldorado Park resident, Jerome Lottering applauded the community for taking a stand and vowed to mobilise every coloured community to come and support Davidsonville residents.

“This government is doing exactly what the previous government (during Apartheid) did. We will make every community ungovernable. This country will burn,” said Jerome to great applause and cheering.

Without exception parents from Davidsionville said despite Makhura’s ultimatum they will not back down until their demands are met. Almost all of them also said the Premier’s rousing fiery speech has caused further divisions and increased racial tension.

Ironically straight after Lottering’s call to mobilise, parents formed a human chain and four pastors called for peace which was followed by a passionate prayer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWLwbPnnP_A&feature=youtu.be

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