Problems for parents at the circuit offices

The parents blocked the offices on Wednesday, January 14, alleging that they were not treated well by officials in the circuit offices.
They raised several issues. They claimed that they were at the offices as from 07:00 to see the circuit manager for Witbank Circuit 1 and they said that they were promised that she will see them at 14:00. But at 14:00 they were told that she was in a meeting, which made them angrier and they decided to block the gate at the entrance of the offices. Officials could not go out.

Parents claimed that some schools reserved more classes for Afrkaans pupils as a way of denying their children placement in those schools. Some claimed that they applied early last year for places for their children for this year, only to be told in October that their children were not accepted in those schools.
“We applied early at some of these schools and they tell us that we are on the waiting list, only to be told later that there were places for our children. What do we do in this situation?”
Some parents complained about the attitude of secretaries at certain schools, as some administrative staff was just giving them problems, when they were supposed to accept their children.

One parent claimed that she applied at one of the schools last year and was told that her child’s application form had gone missing, so they could not accept her child while she was assured during the year that her child was on the waiting list. Another parent said he applied in May last year at another school and was told on October 30 that his child was not accepted.

One parent, who has been transferred from Limpopo, was told that her child cannot be accepted at one of the primary schools and she stays two streets away from the school.
“We are instructed to send our children to townships schools, why? We thought as parents we must make the choice where to send our children, but other people think otherwise.”

Other parents had different problems and they failed to get answers.
Parents claimed that the problem of children not getting places in the beginning of the year has been going on for the past three years at the start of the every school calendar.

The parents were addressed by one of the officials, who asked them to come to the offices the following day and arrange to meet the circuit manager to sort out the problems.
A list of the parents and their contact details was then left at the offices.
The parents met with the circuit manager on Monday, January 19 and they were told that Grade 1 and Grade 8 pupils are prioritised.
“The challenge we are facing is that the circuit manager needs to first meet with the principals of the schools to see how some of the children can be accommodated. We will meet again with the circuit manager for feedback on Friday, January 23,” said one of the parents.
Police were also called in to keep order.

Nkangala District office and Provincial Department of Education was asked for comment, but had not yet responded.