Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane urges school to restore discipline and order
18 June 2021The Mpumalanga Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane urged the management of the Witbank Technical High School at Emalahleni Municipality to work collaboratively with all key role players to restore order and discipline.
The Premier issued this injunction after her visit to the school on Thursday, 17 June 2021 where she addressed the school management, some learners, members of the School Governing Body (SGB),parents and community structures.
She was in the company of the MEC for Education, Mr Bonakele Majuba and MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr Vusi Shongwe,Nkangala District Executive Mayor,Cllr Masilela and Emalahleni Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Linah Malatjie.
At this school classes were suspended following an altercation by few learners which sparked allegations of racism at the school.
In her address, Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane to work together to create an environment that is conducive for learning and teaching with no undue external interference:
“No child should be discriminated against in this or any other school. Discipline must unfold in a fair and just manner at all times. Anyone who comes to the school’s premises to interrupt this environment, should not be given audience,” the Premier implored the management.
She impressed upon the management not to accede to external pressure as this will compromise the safety of learners and the teachers.
She said such an act of interference will disrupt the smooth running of the school and deprive learners of their limited time to improve their performance. The Premier was referring to allegations of an incident in which the gates were barricaded by people who were from outside the municipality.
“No one has the authority barricade the gate of this school under any circumstance. Only the police have the authority to do so, in order to quell violence. Anyone who does so must be identified and be brought to book for violating the policy that governs the school. It is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to arrest instigators of violence,” the Premier warned.
To ensure that the incident that took place at this school does not recur and to foster lasting order, promote cohesion and unity at the school, the meeting directed that henceforth the Department needs to :
- Take corrective measures against the instigators of a brawl which erupted
- Work with the school to review the admission criteria and policies at the school
- Provide counselling to all affected learners and teachers
- Ensure that the affected learners are given a fair and just discipline
- Grant an opportunity to the affected learners to write the assessments
- Use co -option principle in keeping to the prescripts of the South African School Act to include African parents in the school governing body
- To look at feasible means to appoint African teachers at this school
- To ensure that admission of learners is done in a fair, transparent and in line with the prescripts of the Admission Policy
The Premier and the MEC will visit the school on Monday, 20 June 2021 at 10H00 to monitor the situation and to address learners.
The media is invited
Issued by Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Spokesperson: Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni
Tel: (013) 766 2453
Mobile: 082 967 2138
E-mail: mpolwenis@prem.mpg.gov.za