Minister Schafer condemns violent and unruly behaviour at Joe Slovo

7 September 2016

I strongly condemn the violent action by learners at Joe Slovo High School in Khayelitsha yesterday. This kind of behaviour is simply unacceptable.

Today they have embarked on further protest action during school hours in the CBD.

Yesterday the school reported that a group of serial latecomers started burning rubbish bins and throwing stones at the school. This was after learners arrived more than an hour and a half late for school and were reportedly asked to pay a fee of R5 for late coming.

The learners allegedly set a classroom alight and broke the windows of a classroom where matrics were writing exams.

They damaged cars on the premises, including that of the principal. The learners then allegedly threw stones at the police when they arrived.

While there are ways and means of raising issues that learners are concerned about, resorting to violence and destroying public property is not one of them.  Nor will it achieve the outcomes they desire.

It is also unacceptable to arrive nearly an hour and a half late for school.  By arriving late for school, learners are not only doing a disservice to themselves, but also to their fellow learners.  If learners arrive on time it allows for our educators to maximise the whole lesson time ensuring that our learners receive the education they deserve.

While we understand that sometimes there are circumstances beyond their control, serial late-coming is inexcusable.

While it is not permitted to fine learners for an offence such as this, principals do have an extremely difficult time trying to instil discipline at schools.  Nevertheless, this issue is being dealt with.

Schools can take various disciplinary approaches when dealing with latecomers, such as detention, compulsory after-school activities, or physical activities such as picking up litter.

Measures to curb late-coming vary from school to school. While some measures such as detention work at some schools, at others they do not.

Learners cannot, however, be charged a monetary fine for being late.

We have also since received a memorandum of grievances from the learners, handed over at WCED head office earlier today. This memorandum includes a number of additional allegations from learners, including that they are being charged monetary fines for a number of other offences. 

These allegations are concerning and are being investigated by our District Officials.

I appeal to learners to air their grievances in a constructive manner should they disagree with the policies being implemented at schools. I also ask parents to take these matters up with the governing body that is elected by them to represent their interests.  This is where policies are supposed to be made, and the process followed should be inclusive.

While we condemn any disruption to schooling at any time during the school year, the disruption of the matric exams at this critical time of the year is even more concerning.

Western Cape Education Department (WCED) district officials are working with the school management to ensure that examinations and assessments are rescheduled.

Our priority is to ensure the safety of our learners and educators and that teaching and learning is restored as quickly as possible.

Issued by Jessica Shelver, Spokesperson to Minister Debbie Schäfer, 7 September