Frustration over pupil placements leads to ‘serious security breach’ at basic education offices

The basic education department has demanded that “action be taken” after a “serious security breach” at its Tshwane offices by parents and members of the public who protested about leader placements at schools.

Basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said staff members were injured and some of the Tshwane building’s windows were broken.

He said the building had been “invaded” and was “under attack”. He said criminal charges would be brought against those involved for the damage done, which included a broken door and smashed windows.

TimesLIVE went to the offices on Monday afternoon, where parents expressed exasperation at how more than 100 pupils, mostly in Atteridgeville, were still without  schools and had yet to attend class for the 2022 year.

According to eyewitnesses, parents asked to go into the department's building and, when barred by security, broke the door and barged in.

One said one of the department's staff tried to take a video of the events when angry parents allegedly assaulted her. An eyewitness also claimed the injured person was taken by an ambulance. An ambulance was photographed on the premises.

When TimesLIVE arrived at the department, there was heavy police presence outside and inside.

“I was supposed to go to work, but I am here. I feel very bad because when I go to work I leave two children at home,” said a frustrated parent, Mamokete Kola, from Atteridgeville.

Parents, pupils and a few people wearing EFF regalia were sitting around the premises.

Kola said she has applied for placement last year for her two sons, who were supposed to start grade 8. She said she had tried hard to get placements at schools, but was turned back because of language requirements at the different schools.

“They said they would call us but we haven't heard anything until today,” she said.

She said the department had promised to place them at Mboweni high school in Atteridgeville, and would provide teachers and principal.

Another parent, Rebecca Matloga, whose son is supposed to do grade 10, said she was frustrated. She said her son moved from Limpopo and was still struggling to get placement.

“Our children are sitting at home. I feel pain staying with my child at home not going to school. He feels pain when he sees his peers going to school,” she said.

A parent of a 13-year-old, who did not want to be named, said she had applied for placement in November last year and still hasn't received an SMS confirming where her child would go to school.

“In January I went to Lemoshanag in Atteridgville and we were told to wait for an SMS. Last week Tuesday we went to Johannesburg to the department and we were turned back and told to wait for an SMS.

“Term one is closing very soon, we don't know what is happening,” she said.

She said her child was stressed.

“She is always stressed because when I leave her every morning to go to work, she is always sleeping. I don't know how to feel any more,” she said.

She said the department had identified a non-operational school and had promised to send teaching staff there — but she said the department failed to keep its promises.

“There is no-one. We can't leave our children in an empty school,” she said.

France Seleka from Atteridgeville said he had approached at least seven schools in the area for placement, but found no space. He said the department must provide teachers and a principal for the school they promised so that pupils can start learning.

Nicolas Thaba, the EFF chairperson at ward 10, Tshwane, said they had reached an agreement with the department.

“We have agreed that the department will send the district leadership tomorrow to Tshwane south to come and place the children at school,” he said.

Speaking on the security breach, he said the department “are the ones who caused that”.

“We told them that we are coming [and] they let us stand outside for an hour without attending us or letting us in,” he said.

Mhlanga, however, condemned the violent behaviour.

“There are ways of raising issues but the violence and destruction that took place here today is not necessary. Some of our staff members were injured and their cellphones were taken. It was a traumatic experience,” he said.

Mhlanga said according to a report from the district director, all secondary schools in Atteridgeville were over-subscribed.

“This means there is a demand for spaces that must be created. The work was already under way based on the report we received from the district. The meeting that we held here today resolved that spaces will be created. Six classes will be created as of tomorrow at Mboweni [high school] and should be ready by Friday to be occupied.

“The district will work very hard to ensure that there are teachers there and furniture is delivered so that there can be learning.”

He said the school was occupied by a non-profit organisation.

After the meeting, parent Josephine Mohale said she was happy with the outcome.

“I am happy with the feedback that I got today. I have been going up and down requesting placements. I am hoping that this is not going to be an empty promise but they are actually going to be placed in two days,” she said.

TimesLIVE