Troubled Roodepoort Primary closed again
ROODEPOORT Primary School has been shut for the third time this year after violence and alleged racism flared.
The Gauteng Education Department announced the temporary closure of the troubled school at a community meeting which Premier David Makhura and Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi attended on Friday.
Lesufi recently temporarily closed Roodepoort Primary School and hired armed security guards to man its premises during the school holidays. He opened it for the third term. The school was first shut in April.
Problems started last year when parents accused principal Nomathemba Molefe of financial mismanagement, corruption and fraud. But an audit cleared her of all charges.
Last week, Lesufi promised to close the school after the deputy principal’s car was torched, someone claiming to be a parent tried to enter the premises with a gun and 15 black teachers stopped reporting for duty.
From today, the teachers and pupils are due to move to Lufhereng Primary School in Dobsonville in Soweto.
“This is a temporary measure to ensure that education is not compromised any further,” Lesufi said. Last week, the MEC said programmes would be put in place to ensure pupils caught up with their school work. They were still on the May curriculum.
Makhura announced that a task team comprising religious and community leaders would be appointed to help find a solution.
“The school will be reopened once peace has been restored,” Makhura said.
The department has arranged transport for pupils to go to Lufhereng Primary School at 7am from these pick-up points: Roodepoort Primary School Roodepoort City Hall Matholeville Hall Princess Informal Settlement Emhlangeni Plot 8 Forte Secondary School, Dobsonville.
For all transport-related enquiries, parents can contact Alex Ramokhoase at 072 678 9599.