MEC Lesufi determined to find lasting solution for Roodepoort Primary School learners

18 August 2015

The Gauteng MEC for Education, Mr Panyaza Lesufi, has cleared his diary for the next 6 days, to dedicate his time in dealing with the ongoing disruptions that have negatively affected the provision of education to the learners of Roodepoort Primary School (see eNCA report).

MEC Lesufi has vowed to commit all his energies in finding a lasting solution to ensure that the learners of Roodepoort Primary School enjoy their basic right to education.

Roodepoort Primary School has been marred by acts of violence recently forcing the Provincial Government to intervene and take a decision to temporarily close the school.

A decision was taken to temporarily move the learners of the school to neighbouring schools to ensure that their education is not compromised any further.

This decision was rejected by some members of the community who acted violently in preventing learners to be transported to these schools.

Following these acts of violence and disruption of schooling, the Provincial Government has taken a decision to establish a task team comprising of religious and community leaders to mediate and find a lasting solution to challenges faced by the school.

MEC Lesufi is currently consulting with these leaders with a view of bringing them on board in solving challenges of the school.  The names of the members of this task team will be announced in due course.

The department’s curriculum team has finalised a catch up plan to ensure that the learners make up the lost time as a result of disruptions of schooling.

MEC Lesufi has had more than 30 meetings with various education stakeholders in the Davidsonville community in the past 11 months in a bid to resolve challenges faced by the school.

“I have done everything that was required from me to try and deal with this matter.  They have requested me to commission an independent investigation into the appointment of the Principal, I have done that.  They have requested me to commission a forensic audit into the finances of the school, I have done that.  But they have refused all these reports simply because they did not favour their views” said MEC Lesufi.

“There is now an urgent need to protect the right of basic education for the learners of Roodepoort Primary School and I am committed to exploring all solutions in achieving this.  I would like to apologise to the parents of these learners and to all South Africans for this unnecessary situation.  We remain more determined in finding a lasting solution and bring schooling back to normal for these learners” added Lesufi.

Statement issued by Gauteng Department of Education’s spokesperson, Phumla Sekhonyane, August 18 2015