Pupils stone cars in angry protest over gates
EXAMS were disrupted when protest action by hundreds of pupils from Glenhaven Secondary School in Verulam turned violent yesterday.
Pupils threw stones at parked vehicles and pulled down four large gates recently installed at each of the classroom blocks, then tried to set them alight.
They were protesting against the erection of the gates, but the Education Department criticised them, saying the gates were a security feature.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) and the police were at the scene to defuse and monitor the situation. Rusa spokesperson Prem Balram said four security officers had to receive medical attention after being hit by stones.
“Reaction Officers and SAPS members attempted to stop the burning at the school when students began throwing stones and damaging state property. Additional back-up was called in and calm was restored,” said Balram.
A pupil, who asked not to be named, said one of the main issues at the school was that they were only given three minutes to get to classes.
“We aren’t allowed to go to the toilet or to drink water in between and during classes,” she said.
She said teachers sometimes opened the gates late during break time, leaving them with only a few minutes remaining of the break.
“At break we have to wait in a long line to use the toilets, which aren’t even working properly. We can’t wash our hands and there’s no toilet paper,” said the frustrated pupil.
Another pupil said the water supply to the school had been shut off.
“We aren’t allowed to drink water, they shut off the water at the meter. We were told we must first pay our school fees before we can drink water,” she said.
The pupils said they had attempted to address their problems with the principal two weeks ago.
In a letter sent to the KZN Education MEC’s office yesterday, DA spokesperson on education Dr Imran Keeka said the issues at the school had been raised with the department.
Keeka called on MEC Kwazi Mshengu to look into a Schools Evaluation Authority, which has already been set up in the Western Cape, to urgently conduct an audit of complaints.
KZN education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said the department was disappointed by the pupils’ demands.