Police called in as parents storm school

POLICE were called in at Hoërskool Akasia yesterday after parents whose children were not accepted at the school walked in unannounced and demanded placement for their children.

There was no violence, however, but the police kept a close watch on the situation as parents and their children gathered inside the school hall.

On Tuesday night, parents met outside Akasia town hall and resolved they would go to different schools to register their children yesterday.

Many shunned an opportunity to use the online application system after the Gauteng Education Department announced that it would be open until January 24 for late registration.

The parents told Pretoria News that they had lost trust in the system because it had failed them on many occasions.

Their representatives, who included local EFF leaders, engaged in talks with the principal, Koos Venter, over the possibility of accommodating more learners in Grades 8, 9 and 10.

Local EFF leader Thabo Mothole said: “The leadership of the EFF has been locked in a meeting with the police and the principal to look into the number of learners that can be accommodated at the school.”

He said it emerged during the meeting that more learners could still be admitted at the school because it took 35 learners per class.

“We are going to push that it accommodates at least 45 learners per class,” he said.

Mothole said the principal told them that he did not have a problem with making space for more learners, but he still needed to consult his superiors at the district.

Member of the school governing body Mmaselema Mookamedi said parents who went to the school resided in the area and were aggrieved because their children were not placed.

“Children have not been accepted and we have been asking ourselves who exactly has the district taken into account when they do these things.”

Mookamedi said he was also affected by the situation because his daughter was refused admission at the school.

He said there were rumours some people obtained local physical addresses fraudulently from the City of Tshwane in order to gain the advantage to be admitted at the school.

He said the principal disclosed that the school had accepted close to 245 Grade 8 learners.

“EFF leaders asked for the number to be stretched to 45 per class and the principal said he does not have a prerogative on the admission and that he is still going to consult with the district,” Mookamedi said.

Parent Thomas Sesoko expressed unhappiness that his daughters could not find space at the school.

“We have been living here for 10 years, but we are struggling to find space. Children from Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve find space while I cannot. We went to the district and they said there is no space, but finally there is common sense,” he said.