Phola community members standing up for their children

A mother alleges that she has to take her child out of school because she felt that she was discriminated against because she was disabled.

Ms Ntombikayise Mathebula of Phola stated all was well after she gave birth to her daughter Sinehlanhla Sambo and after three years she had a stroke in the left side. The now five year old girl started attending school at Siyathokoza Primary School and faced many challenges according to the mother.

“My daughter was called names by one of the teachers and I went to the school and talked with the class teacher to find out why she was calling my daughter names. I then made the principle aware of the matter; the principle believed that the matter between me and the teacher was personal and has nothing to do with my child. On the second visit to the school, I took along a group of women and the teacher denied calling my child names.”

Parents gathered at the gate of Siyathokoza Primary School in Phola to settle an issue of a child who was allegedly discriminated against because she was disabled.

According to Ms Mathebula, her child started crying every time she has to go to class and was kept alone in the office. In the end Ms Mathebula was advised to remove the child from the school and to find her daughter an alternative school or a pre-school. She did that, but felt that her daughter was discriminated against because she was disabled.

“Even though my daughter has been taken to a new pre-school but the teacher has made life difficult for my daughter and she must be stopped before doing the same to other children. My child can do anything with her right hand like any child of her age,” added Ms Mathebula.

Members of the community led by the Waya Waya Community Movement under Pastor Lucas Chippa Mtsweni went to the school on Monday, May 15 to voice their concern towards the treatment that Ms Mathebula’s daughter received from the school. Pastor Mtsweni led the delegation which held a meeting at the school. Pastor Mtsweni stated that the provincial department of education had intervened and has ordered that the child be returned to the school immediately and that the teacher be temporarily suspended pending an investigation and the Grade R HOD will take over the class.

Pastor also explained that their movement was a new model and will intervene in any community issues.

“As Waya Waya we have realised that there are many problems in our school. Teachers need to understand policies under which they teach as well as the constitution of the country. Our schools are not full service and they are under resourced. The teachers also are faced with many challenges and we want the department to come on board to help. Schools need to put plans or systems in place to network with other departments.
The other matters related to the conduct of the teacher will be investigated; the issue of corporal punishment and that of children being called names will also be investigated as well.”

Pastor Mtsweni said they have also taken upon themselves to visit all schools in the community and they will also meet with school governing bodies to find out their roles in the different schools.

Parents being addressed by Pastor Lucas Chippa Mtsweni reporting to them about a meeting held earlier on at the school.

“We are doing all this because we love and we want to protect our children because we love and support them and we will support the teachers as well. We want to create a best environment in our schools. We want to turn the township schools to be the best and the teachers must have the best interest of the child,” noted Pastor Mtsweni.

Police were at the scene to maintain order and as a second round of talks was held at the school. The parents vowed that they will make sure their children are protected and receive the best treatment from teachers.

Section 28 in the Constitution of South Africa is devoted to children and outlines the rights that they are entitled to. This does not mean that other rights enshrined in our constitution do not apply to them – Section 28 is specifically for SA citizens under the age of 18.

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