EQUAL EDUCATION PRESS STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF EQUAL EDUCATION LAW CENTRE
SAPS PRESENTS SAFETY AND SECURITY PLAN FOR MANENBERG SCHOOLS FOLLOWING COURT ORDER AGAINST WESTERN CAPE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
WCED OFFICIALS MAINTAIN THAT SECURITY OF SCHOOL PREMISES NOT ITS RESPONSIBILITY.
On Friday the Western Cape High Court gave an interim order that the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) must immediately provide security to five Manenberg schools. The application was brought by the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) on behalf of five schools. (See order and court papers: http://www.eelawcentre.org.za/node/68.)
Two days later, on Sunday 23 February, a meeting was held between the senior members of the Western Cape SA Police Service (SAPS), officials of the WCED, teachers representing the Manenberg Teachers' Steering Committee, and the legal representatives of the teachers and the schools, the EELC.
At the meeting, senior members of the SAPS presented an emergency ‘school safety plan' for all Manenberg Schools, with particular attention to the five most affected: Edendale Primary, Red River Primary, Sonderend Road Primary, Rio Grande Primary and Silverstream High. The plan, which takes immediate effect, includes the deployment of additional stationary police vehicles to schools and increased police patrols of the area. Police will be outside the schools until 9am and between 1 and 3pm, and will patrol on an increased basis.