Riot police watch over Bulumko and Joe Slovo school students during a protest outside the Western Cape Department of Education. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
9 September 2016
Over a hundred students from Bulumko and Joe Slovo Secondary schools protested outside the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) offices today.
A grade 10 student from Bulumko says that she is protesting because of gangsterism at the school. Another student says that learners are carrying “knives and guns” to school.
A grade 11 pupil from Bulumko says that because of gangsterism “education has come to a stand still”. She says that she has seen students stabbed in class.
On Thursday, it was reported that several students were injured in a knife fight amongst gangsters at the school.
The Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) said: “Unfortunately in communities where gangsterism is prominent, it often spills into our schools. Gangsterism is a broad societal issue and while the education department cannot be held solely responsible for it, we can and do try to minimise its impact in our schools.”
Students gathered around the entrance to the WCED offices, singing struggle songs and chanting: “We want Debbie [Schafer]!”.
Dozens of riot police, police vans and a nyala were on standby.
Michael Milayo, Provincial Chairperson of COSAS (Congress of South African Students) Western Cape, said that the students are frustrated with Western Cape Minister for Education Debbie Schafer.
“She must step down with immediate effect,” he said.
Masimange Mkhosaan, Provincial Deputy Secretary of COSAS, accused Schafer of only being interested in “white schools”. Mkhosaan said that when it comes to Khayelitsha, she does not respond.
The Department of Education denies claims of racism.
A memorandum was handed over to Tau Mateseliso, Deputy Director General for Institution Development and Coordination.
Some of the grievances from Bulumko Secondary school include the expulsion of learners involved in gangsterism, the need for 24-hour security and an end to corporal punishment.
Joe Slovo Secondary School handed over a memorandum on Wednesday.
Mkhosaan said they are planning a full memorandum from numerous schools around the Western Cape to be handed to the WCED.