Johannesburg – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Thursday said it has secured four commitments from the Gauteng Provincial Department of Education regarding the placement in schools of 2 000 learners.
The announcement came a day after the EFF held a picket at the Gauteng Provincial Department of Education.
The EFF said a meeting between itself, the affected parents, and the Department, agreed to the following:
- 1. The department of education, through district offices, will place all the learners who are without school with immediate effect. The department, aided by the EFF, will identify all the learners without schools and make sure that they are attended to without difficulties.
- 2. All schools which demonstrate white arrogance will be taken to task, the EFF will be at the forefront of leading this program and enforcing transformation in all these schools by placing black learners, transforming the SGB and beheading racism wherever it raises its ugly head.
- 3. The department of transport with metro police, community-based safety committees and parents, and the leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters will ensure that no scholar transport moving learners without following road safety regulations and proper paperwork.
- 4. These bodies have the right to conduct random stops and checks on scholar transport and enforce legal regulations.
Narrating events leading to the commitments, the EFF said, “it engaged in a picket at the Gauteng Provincial Department of Education yesterday following the mass exclusion of over 2 000 learners, mostly in grade 1 and grade 8, from accessing education”.
The EFF said on its arrival at the department, demanded a meeting with the officials to make a representation of the cries of the parents who came with their children desperate for access to education.
“As anticipated, we encountered resistance from the department’s officials as they wanted us to submit a memorandum and vacate their premises.
“This is the same behaviour parents meet when they approach Basic Education Offices, they are told to drop papers, leave, and wait for eternity only to receive a negative response.
“As the EFF, we were not going to allow the organization to be disrespected and undermined by officials who assume office at the mercy and will of the people.
“As they were met by the militant uncompromising approach of the EFF, these officials inevitably conceded to the EFF’s demand, and a meeting was secured.”
The EFF said its leadership, together with representatives from the affected parents went to table the memorandum of demands.
The demands made by the EFF was for the “immediate placement of all learners who are without schools”.
The EFF added: “Secondly, we called for the placement of black learners into predominantly white schools and intentional disruption of racism and white arrogance in Laerskools across the province.
“Lastly, we called for a safe, reliable scholar transport system across the province.”
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The department comments in the matter are being sought by The Bulrushes.
