The Gauteng provincial minister for Education, Angie Motshekga, on Wednesday condemned attempts by the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) to disrupt schooling in the Gauteng province.
”Since the beginning of this week, members of Cosas have been disrupting schools, demanding to meet the minister to discuss matters related to scholar transport,” the Gauteng Department of Education said in a statement.
On Wednesday, Cosas members disrupted schools in Doornkop, as well as parts of Soweto. On Tuesday, Cosas members disrupted schools in Kwa Thema, Tsakane and Etwatwa. They later converged at Gandhi Square in Johannesburg were they handed a memorandum to the office of the minister.
”This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated, especially during this sensitive stage of our academic calendar,” said Motshekga.
”The department has always been willing to meet with Cosas, and indeed the minister has agreed to meet with them on Tuesday May 30 2006, but Cosas claims the date is too far,” the statement added.
The department had now ”reluctantly” agreed to meet with Cosas on Thursday May 25 to establish reasons behind what it termed ”their irresponsible actions”.
The department said that it was ”saddened” by the disruption of schools in Mamelodi on Tuesday.
”Learners went on the rampage, demanding that police take action against an alleged rapist. We call upon these learners to refrain from taking this kind of action,” said Motshekga.
The Gauteng Department of Education said that it had adopted ”an open-minded approach” to the ruling by the Pretoria High Court requesting Motshekga to pay the father of a son who was injured in one of the department’s schools in Pretoria.
”We will apply our mind to the ruling and thereafter exercise our options fully,” said the minister. — i-Net Bridge