Equal Education (EE) defends learners’ right to peaceful protest
12 June 2018
On 16 May, the South African Police Services (SAPS) used live ammunition on protesting learners from Thuto-Kitso Technical School in Fochville. Learners of the school have told Equal Education (EE) Deputy-Head of Gauteng, Kholwani Simelane, that they had been calling for the recruitment of a Technical Studies teacher at the school, since the beginning of this year. Learners had written multiple letters to the principal making this request. Believing that their complaint had fallen on deaf ears, and that the West Rand District Office was not taking their pleas seriously, the learners opted to hold a protest.
The protest was both peaceful and unarmed, but despite this, the SAPS opened fire on the learners. From what learners at the school have reported to EE, the school’s management was responsible for reporting the protest to SAPS.
This incident occurred exactly one month before South Africa commemorates Youth Day. This year marks the 42nd anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising, which saw learners across the country, initially protest against the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, alongside English. The State’s reaction to these protests was to have heavily armed police fire live ammunition onto protesting learners.
Protest is an important way in which youth may express their ideas, advocate for their own causes, and meaningfully participate in decision-making processes. Equalisers (high school members of EE), and other EE members and supporters who are parents, teachers, and post-school youth, regularly organise marches and other public demonstrations to advocate for improvements in schools.