Motshekga must make up her mind

BASIC Education Minister Angie Motshekga can learn a thing or two from some of the country’s religious leaders, the obvious being that decisive leadership is key in times of crisis.

Her handling of the reopening of schools has been marred by confusion, uncertainty and doubt, right from her initial announcement that school management teams were to return to prepare for this week’s reopening.

That announcement was met with pushback from unions and parents, many believing it would be impossible to meet the lockdown requirements.

It turned out to be the case as things went even more pear-shaped on Sunday when she cancelled her much-anticipated briefing, telling the nation – through a media statement that only reached a handful of people – that the reopening had been shifted further, to June 8.

Whether this will happen remains doubtful as some provinces have yet to receive crucial personal protective equipment. Motshekga faces another hurdle as Mmusi Maimane has hauled her before the courts to challenge the department’s move to reopen schools.

It is unacceptable that the minister continues with this kind of behaviour when so many lives and futures depend on the decisions she and her officials make.

The confusion and flip-flopping is adding more anxiety, stress and fear.

The minister doesn’t need to look far for inspiration and decisiveness.

When confronted with a similar situation, some of our religious leaders did not hesitate in saying “no we will keep our doors closed”.

This decisive action is what the country needs now more than ever as we are in uncharted territory.

Whatever Motshekga and her officials decide, the lives our children and the teachers entrusted to look after them must never be compromised.