Tensions still high in Phoenix as schools are set to reopen

All eyes will be on the reopening of schools in Phoenix, north of Durban, on Monday where tensions are still running high after the recent violent unrest which claimed the lives of 251 people in KwaZulu-Natal.

Racial tensions between the predominantly Indian population of Phoenix and neighbouring settlements of Bhambayi, Zwelisha and Amaoti were sparked following the high number of deaths in the area as a result of residents taking up arms and blockading off areas.

But on Sunday the province’s education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu, said “it was all systems go” for the reopening of schools in the strife-torn area, as well as for the rest of the province.

“We are quite optimistic that all learners will return, except in areas where there is fear.”

A total of 2.8-million pupils in the province attend 6,148 schools.   

The general agreement is that they want schools to start in Phoenix and then work on the healing process.

—  Basic education minister Angie Motshekga

In an interview with Sunday Times Daily, Mshengu said that “tensions are still high in the community and there’s still a lot of fear among African and Indian parents”.

“The Africans will obviously fear that the attacks may continue and then there’s sections from the Indian population who fear that there might be retaliation.”

In a bid to allay the fears of both communities, Mshengu held consultative meetings with officials of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), religious leaders, the leadership of governing bodies and community leaders at a school in Phoenix on Sunday.

The purpose of the meeting was to pave the way for the safe return of pupils and teachers to class.

He said the department was “ready for any eventuality”, and that there would be a strong police presence in and around schools in the former Indian township on Monday.

“Police will be more visible to ensure that nothing sinister happens.”

He said they wanted parents to play their part “because these learners have been schooling and socialising together and are friends”.

“We don’t want what has happened to spill over into our schools. We want to instil unity among learners so that when they go home, they can engage their parents to say ‘this should not have happened and it must never happen again’.”

Mshengu said the department would be providing psychosocial support to the learners “because we do understand that there may be learners who may come to school with anger, probably after losing their family members through these senseless killings”.

He said he was pleased with the turnout of both Indian and African people at the meeting “speaking with one voice to say this doesn’t define us”.

Mshengu confirmed that parents had called expressing concern over their children’s safety at school but he had urged them not to keep them at home as they had already lost so much time.

Teachers had also called Mshengu expressing safety concerns.

“There are those who have been calling me directly and I have been engaging with them. As we engage, we feel they are getting comfortable because we need to allay fears.”

Meanwhile, Basil Manuel, executive director of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa), told members during a KwaZulu-Natal conference on Saturday that teachers were the first line in changing how people think.

“Only you can teach nonracialism and reconciliation,” he told members.

Manuel “pointedly” said: “Let’s accept that in Phoenix some bad things did happen.”

On Saturday, basic education minister Angie Motshekga said during a media briefing that there was agreement across the sector that the department was ready to reopen schools on Monday.

She confirmed that she had spoken to Mshengu, who assured her they were working “flat out” to bring calm to Phoenix.

“Their starting point is that schools must go on but obviously they won’t force matters if it’s not safe for children. I don’t know what reason to give children in Phoenix to say it is unsafe to go to schools in their neighbourhood.”

She said the biggest threat [in terms of safety], would be children coming into Phoenix from outside the area.

Children studying in Phoenix also come from KwaMashu, Inanda and Ntuzuma.

“The general agreement is that they want schools to start in Phoenix and then work on the healing process.”

All primary school pupils nationally are expected to start attending class on a daily basis from August 2.

Motshekga said that the rotational timetabling would have to continue “but we wish to curtail rotation in primary schools, so that we can consolidate and give them the necessary foundation”.

“Because if things go wrong, then it’s going to be difficult to recover in later grades. The damage happens in primary school and if we can’t save that part, we have a big problem.”