Schools boycott call grows
Motshekga threatens legal action against instigators
Nobody goes to work and no-one moves. Then the economy opens up again for a particular period of time and then it closes again. So at least there is predictability and you can control infections in that way
THE Council of Education Ministers (CEM), which is led by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, has threatened to take legal action against politicians and organisations who are organising a boycott against the reopening of schools in fear of Covid-19 infections.
Former DA leader Mmusi Maimane was among those who had called for the nationwide school stayaway.
The leader of the One South Africa Movement made the call as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to hit the country hard, and with reports that many schools in Kwazulu-natal are being forced to shut down after learners and teachers became infected.
“The CEM has not ruled out the possibility of going to court to seek protection from all those hell-bent on obstructing schooling.
“The CEM urges all those aggrieved not to interfere with the rights of those parents wishing to see their children going to school,” read the statement issued by the CEM yesterday.
Maimane told Independent Media that the CEM court threats were specifically directed at him after his stayaway call had received a positive response.
“The question they (CEM) must answer is, is it okay that there is a school closing every single day in this country because of Covid-19? Who is going to take responsibility when more learners and teachers are getting infected?” asked Maimane.
He said he was talking on behalf of the parents who were concerned that sending children back to school would expose them to infections.
“We will not be intimidated, and
I won’t be intimidated. The response had been very positive, and that is why they are threatening us. In all the provinces, people had been standing together saying ‘we will not’ (send children to school),” said Maimane.
The media this week reported that 28 schools in Pietermaritzburg were temporarily shut down following the discovery of cases. Most of the schools were former Model C schools and in the suburbs.
Independent Media has seen letters in which six of the city’s top schools informed parents on Tuesday and yesterday that they had shut down after cases of the virus.
A girls’ schools told parents yesterday that one of its Grade 7 learners had tested positive, and that it had closed today and Monday “for deep cleaning”.
“We appeal to you (parents) to please keep your child at home should she show any Covid-19 symptoms and very importantly, if they have been tested, that they be isolated.
“All test results must be sent to the school once received as the department requires proof of status,” read a letter the school had sent to parents.
Another school told parents that a teacher who underwent testing on Tuesday had yesterday received positive results.
However, when asked to confirm the cases and reveal how many schools had to shut down, provincial education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi could only say: “Regarding what you are asking the premier will pronounce on Sunday in his media briefing.”
In a statement this week, Motshekga revealed that 11 teachers, four non-teaching staff and three learners in the Eastern Cape had succumbed to the virus.
“The reports show that some of these teachers and learners could not have the opportunity of reporting back to school on school reopening. Due to the infection rate, it is clear that we need to continue to work together to contain the transmission of the virus,” said Motshekga.
She raised the concern that everyday there was an unprecedented rise in Covid-19 infections, which she said were due, among other things, to non-compliance with the health, safety and social distancing protocols on Covid-19.