DA appeals to Gauteng education MEC to not close Roodepoort Primary school

17 April 2015

The DA has today requested Gauteng education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi to not close Roodepoort Primary School in Davidsonville but to engage with residents over the issue.

Closing the school will deny learners the opportunity to learn and be taught.

While the DA notes the MEC’s announcement that the forensic report clears the principal and deputy principal of any corruption allegations, the DA believes that all such forensic reports must be made public and shared with school governing bodies (SGBs).

This must be done not due to the community pressure but on the basis of transparency and good governance.

To date, the MEC has refused to make public more than 150 forensic reports into schools across Gauteng, giving the impression that the Department of Education is protecting wrongdoers.

The MEC must show the necessary confidence in the role of SGBs, and their abilities to make decisions best suited to their specific needs.

We therefore expect the MEC and the department to conduct the necessary training with all SGBs in the province following their elections last month.

Statement issued by Khume Ramulifho MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, April 17 2015

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