Youth must learn to engage
THE Pietermaritzberg high school situation of pupils voicing their views on the land question i a very interesting one. I agree with Professor Jonathan Jansen (DD, October 19) as he explained the importance of free speech and the need for high school pupils to engage on issues affecting their communities.
These former model C schools clearly offer what many poorer schools do not offer which explains why most parents who can afford to, choose to send their children to such schools. After all, they are far from the toyi-toyis and such disruptions. However, there can be a tendency at such places to behave as though they are outside South Africa – this goes for private and public schools such as these. It is as if the government contributes nothing to them and they in turn, are not expected to contribute to society, as if the problems facing South Africa do not affect them.
I agree that the South African Schools Act is there for a reason and should be respected, but not to the extant of pretending that children do not come from communities with real problems. The Act will help to enforce order but should not be used as to discourage young people from engaging with the real issues they will have to face beyond the school gates and certainly beyond high school.
Education surely, must seek to produce pupils who care about the community, who hope to contribute meaningfully as citizens.
Pupils must concern themselves with the difficult history of this country and its implications. Sometimes I think the schools “in town” as they are referred to in some quarters, would rather have children forget about the past, as if it has no current manifestations. — Phethum Soga, via e-mail on. But try to phone any number at Buffalo City Metro. It just rings and rings or the number does not exist.
I then contacted the councillor who tried to find out was going on. The first response she got first from customer care was to advise us that Willow Park was being re-energised.
On a further query, she learnt that the substation had been vandalised so badly that it needed to be moved. But any attempt to get there needed law enforcement and SAP support and a timeframe could not be given as to when this would be done.
How can this be that vandalising is the cause of the problem? Surely it is the fault of the bosses at municipality who take no action to protect the assets of the city and no action when vandalising does occur.
They also do not seem to understand the word maintenance, rather waiting until things are too far gone and they have to start fighting fires.
We, in this city, far deserve better than this. But while we continue to have people unable to get even the basic things right, nothing is going to change. We need competent, qualified skilled people whose sole function is to run this city – like a business. The less politicians involved the better as they are stumbling block at most times, which we don’t need. — Ivan Balk, Willow Park