Parents in the line of duty

21 April 2015 - 02:17 By Sanya Mansoor

Parents lined the streets as much as 36 hours before - bringing laptops and books, and stocking up on coffee - before school gates opened at midnight to accept applications for admission. They braved thunderstorms and slept on chairs and hammocks. On Sunday evening a thunderstorm drove some parents to rush to cars and bring gazebos and tents.The registration period for the 2016 academic year opens today . Parents can submit applications to schools until May 26.Gloria Matshusa arrived outside the gate of Northcliff High School at 1.45pm on Sunday – almost two days early – to submit an application for her son.As a resident of the area with her son in a nearby junior school, she wishes the school had a feeder system from primary institutions. Since it doesn't, families from across the province can apply – creating more competition. Despite the wait, she's had fun singing in the rain and befriending fellow parents.Denise Drew, second in line, took a day off work and arrived at 2pm on Sunday to secure a place for her son. Within half an hour, the line grew to 70 people.She says the system is “inefficient but we have to make the best of it,” and finds the atmosphere is “festive, like voting. There’’s great camraderie and no one is grumpy”.Drew’s husband created a system to regulate order in the line. Everyone had a number marked onto their hand to prevent cutting.Helen Wiedemann has been in line for her son, an avid hockey fan, since 2.30pm Sunday. She says the school’s new astroturf is a huge attraction. Her husband is standing in line in Randpark as an alternative choice.Although 2am was “bitterly cold” she says the experience has been “absolutely awesome because there’’s good morale”.Homeless men and women were scattered throughout queues, often paid by parents to secure spots. Drew never considered it because she wasn’t sure she could trust a stranger to follow through. She says she’s fortunate to have a husband so they can switch out when she’s tired.Parents were unclear about the web-based application for admissions announced by the education department last week.At Randpark High School, Dorcas Botha is second in line and arrived at 3pm on Sunday. She stayed up the whole night, shivering. She now knows everyone in the line up to number 14 but is adamant that the government must do something. She says she would hire someone to stand in her place if she had the money.Anthea Naidoo, further down the line, arrived at 5.45pm with a blanket and latop. She watched Fast and Furious 7 to pass the time. She says the only option is for the government to build more schools. ..

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