A big section of NY108 erupted into flames as incensed residents barricaded the busy road with burning tyres in a quest to avert the eviction of children and staff from the Uluntu Pre-school.
Motorists had to find alternative routes as protesters went on a rampage. The drama began when a sheriff, accompanied by the police and members of private security company, allegedly forced the school to vacate the premises on Thursday 20 January.
It is alleged the group ordered everyone to evacuate before removing items from the premises previously used for a range of community outreach initiatives. Some of the children had to be taken to nearby houses for their safety. The site has been apparently earmarked for a shopping mall. The development is spearheaded by a company called 255 Gugulethu Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
School principal Nombulelo Mzimkulu said she got the eviction letter in the morning and the pre-school immediately ordered to vacate the building. She said she was aware of the impending eviction, but it was still subject to a court decision. “We were surprised when we saw sheriffs accompanied by the police officers handing us an eviction letter,” said Mzimkulu.
She stated she didn’t know what would happen now. She said the pre-school had operated in the building since 1982.
Mzimkulu said in 2017 she was informed by a member of Gugulethu Holdings that the land would be used for a shopping centre. “I told them I had no problem with that, as long as our ECD could be accommodated, which he said was not a problem,” she said, claiming the company changed its mind and wanted to evict the crèche in December last year.
“On Thursday 15 December I went to court to stop them and informed the court I didn’t have a lawyer and applied for a pro-bono one. So I had an appointment for a meeting with lawyers, with whom I applied for pro- bono status on Tuesday 8 February.
But because Gugulethu Holdings was putting pressure on me as I was waiting to meet the lawyers to I apply for pro-bono status I ended up looking for another lawyer to represent me,” said Mzimkulu, who said she was expecting to appear in the Cape High Court in the city centre on Wednesday 2 March.
Parent Nomvula Soyeye described the eviction as traumatic for the children. “It sets a bad precedent for our children,” she pointed out.
“Our children do not have a school. And parents don’t have an alternative because other pre-schools are too far and they will need a transport for children.”
Soyeye called for other relevant stakeholders to intervene. Gugulethu Business Forum chair Mlungisi Mazana said he didn’t know how the property was sold.
