Parents, province talk safety steps after threat to exams

THREATS to shut down schools in the middle of exams over safety concerns resulted in a hastily convened meeting between angry parents and the provincial education department.

The department sent a representative to attend a meeting of the Hanover Park school governing body forum to discuss violence at schools.

Chairperson of the forum Ebrahim Abrahams said they had to speak out as pupils were being “wiped out”.

“Threatening to shut down all schools in the district was a wake-up call to the Western Cape Education Department as they met with us after failing to respond to our concerns over safety and security in schools.

“We wanted to know the measures they have taken to ensure safety.

“We all walked out of the meeting satisfied the WCED will continue communicating with us,” he said.

Among their demands were working alarm systems, CCTV cameras, intercoms and regular search-and-seizure operations at schools.

He said random searches, even just once a week, would result in fewer incidents on school premises.

Abrahams said political interference divided the community, hence a call for unity and a collective approach.

“Gang violence that affects innocent people, especially children, must be dealt with,” said Abrahams.

An Interfaith prayer march, led by leaders in the Muslim and Christian faiths, was made to Freedom Square and various hot spots after the meeting.

Meanwhile Equal Education is planning a march to Parliament on Friday.

The body’s organiser, Sindisa Monakali, said: “The march is part of the provincial campaign on safety in schools.

“Schools should be safe places for learning.

“In 2015 Equal Education audited nearly 250 schools in the Western Cape and found significant safety problems.”

Pupils from ID Mkizhe and Fezeka high schools in Gugulethu marched from the local mall to the police station on Thursday demanding police visibility before and after school hours.