Learners of Witbank High School embarked on a strike last week repeating the words ‘enough is enough’. They want their acting principal Hamilton Tjatji out and Fanus Buys back as their school principal.
A hefty strike took place on Monday, August 3 and Tuesday, August 4 where an electric gate motor of the main gate and dustbins were burned. Learners continued their rampage on August 7 when they burnt a toilet, bins and tyres to show disgust with what they call poor leadership skills from the acting principal Mr Tjatji.
Students of Witbank High School during their strike on August 7.
A group of learners stood outside the school’s main gate venting out their frustrations about why they want Mr Buys back as their headmaster. Amongst the complaints from the learners they alleged that the school has a smoking area approved by the principal and that all grades failed their June exams, they further stated that in Grade eight only eight pupils allegedly passed.
School learners echoed the same voice saying its either Mr Buys returns or the Department of Education gets them a new principal; if that is not done they will continue with the strike.
Bins were burnt at Witbank High School during the learners strike on August 7.
Students say that it is not that with Mr Buys they did not fail at times, they feel the situation is now out of control.
“The school is no longer disciplined like it used to be. I am going to be doing my matric next year and with this years June exams where almost the whole school failed, it makes me nervous as to how will I perform. We write tests every Tuesday and Thursday but it feels like all our efforts go down the drain.”
Learners burnt toilets during their strike on August 7 at Witbank High School.
Spokesperson of the Department of Education in Mpumalanga, Jasper Zwane said Principals and teachers are appointed based on a contract signed between themselves and the Department; as such the department finds it strange that learners can make such a demand without advancing valid reasons. He further adds that the major concern is that the learners should be using this time to prepare for their final examination and not find themselves embroiled in issues that are outside their scope.
“If learners were saying teachers are not attending classes or simply put that they are not being taught, the Department would understand. However the Department is pulling all stops to strengthen the management of the school given that the principal position has since been vacant and for that reason the school community is requested to work collaboratively with the department to ensure that this is done in keeping to the legal framework. Meetings have already been convened with the School Governing Body for the attainment of this objective,” concluded Zwane.
