A total of 15 schools in the municipal areas of Phokwane and Magareng in the Northern Cape were affected by disruptive actions today.
The Northern Cape Department of Education confirmed that no teaching or learning took place at these schools on Tuesday, 11 February.
“Although educators reported for duty, no learners were present. The district office has instructed principals to issue notices to parents, requesting they send their children to school starting tomorrow,” Geoffrey van der Merwe, spokesperson, says.
“The department does not condone these negative actions, hence we are in the process of finalising a court order to obtain an interdict against the SGB Forum, and steps are being taken to withdraw the functions of certain School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in line with legislation.
“We further appeal to parents and the school community to ensure their children have access to education. The department emphasises that there is no justifiable reason for this disruption.”
‘Actions unconstitutional’
On Monday, 10 February, it was stated that school gates locked and educators removed from school premises during disruptive actions at 13 schools in the municipal areas of Phokwane and Magareng.
However, the Northern Cape Department of Education was expecting normal schooling to resume in the affected areas starting from Tuesday.
In a statement, the Northern Cape Department of Education says it is addressing a serious issue involving an illegitimate group known as the “SGB Forum,” which has been disrupting schooling in the Phokwane and the Magareng Municipality.
“Despite principals and educators reporting for duty, 13 schools were forced to close due to the actions of this group.
“These actions have been deemed unconstitutional, as it prevents learners from accessing their right to education,” the statement read.
This group apparently even went so far as to lock school gates and remove educators from their school premises.
The department has sought assistance from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to manage the situation in certain areas.
Furthermore, the department is taking immediate legal action to secure an interdict against the SGB Forum and will withdraw the functions of certain School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in accordance with the law.
This disruption is seen as a violation of education rights, and the department is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to these events.
The department has also confirmed that the allocation of resources for schools will proceed as scheduled and believes that the disruption has no justifiable cause.
It is suspected that other, unspoken motives may be behind these actions.
