Coloured people are marginalised‚ say Klipspruit community members

01 August 2017 - 18:21 By Kgaugelo Masweneng
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The communities of Klipspruit West in Eldorado Park accused the MEC for Education‚ Panyaza Lesufi‚ of not putting the interests of learners. File photo.
The communities of Klipspruit West in Eldorado Park accused the MEC for Education‚ Panyaza Lesufi‚ of not putting the interests of learners. File photo.
Image: VATHISWA RUSELO

The communities of Klipspruit West in Eldorado Park‚ Johannesburg‚ demand that there be a full investigation on racial discrimination as they feel marginalised and systematically disenfranchised.

“We call on every South African to support the injustices that continue in our communities unabated. The community will not be intimidate by the regrettable remarks regarding racism by the MEC and we want to acknowledge the exceptional solidarity we received from neighbouring communities in Gauteng and extended support including the School Governing Body (SGB) of Assegai Primary School in Wentworth‚ Durban.

“The living experience evidently shows that coloured people are marginalised and systematically disenfranchised. This marginalisation is worsened by what appears to be the structural manipulation of the Identity question with the policy of merit and equality in the appointment of qualified personnel‚” said a statement by a group called the Patriots of Equality on behalf of the Eldorado community.

The group accused the MEC for Education‚ Panyaza Lesufi‚ of not putting the interests of learners first when he dissolved the SBG. As a result they are calling for a provincial and national “Chalk Down” as of the 31st July 2017 until further notice.

The Gauteng education slammed claims that the department marginalises the community by saying that it is the responsibility of the SBG’s and a school’s management to oversee who gets appointed.

“We don’t understand why they cast an aspersion that the department is alienating them‚” said Steve Mabona‚ the department’s spokesperson.

“We would like to confirm that no go slow took place in all schools around Johannesburg South‚ East and West‚ schooling proceeded 100 percent without disruption. The department is delighted that the teachers put the interest of the learners first‚ and did not take part‚” said Mabona.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) criticised the action by a number of schools to embark on a go slow in solidarity of Klipspruit Secondary School in Soweto.

"While the right to protest action serves as an important mechanism for the voicing of concerns‚ it must be exercised in a manner that does not unduly impact on the realisation of other rights‚ including the right of access to basic education and the best interest of the child. While the commission is sensitive to the multiple and complex issues being faced in these communities‚ it emphasises that children should not be used as a vehicle for protests‚ as this invariably results in a loss of crucial learning time‚” said Commissioner Andre Gaum‚ of the SAHRC.

The conflict began when parents disrupted learning at the school‚ calling for a black principal to be removed and replaced by a coloured one. After visiting the school‚ the MEC dissolved the school’s governing body.


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