Statement by Adv. André Gaum, Minister of Education in the Western Cape

The problem regarding accommodation at Manzomtombo High in Mfuleni resulted from 1500 learners registered at the school at the beginning of the year, while the school only had space for 1100 learners.

At the time it was agreed with the school community that the double-shift system would be used to accommodate all the learners. It was agreed that Grade 10 - 12 would use the school in the morning and Grade 8 - 9 in the afternoon.

Last Friday the community backtracked on this agreement and demanded that a certain amount of mobile classrooms must be immediately provided to the school. While these classrooms would be set-up they demanded to be accommodated in tents in the meantime.

Enough space is available in surrounding schools and we offered to place at and transport the learners to nearby schools. However, the parents refused to allow their children to be bussed to Emithimi Primary School where classrooms are available.

Mr John Lyners, Deputy Director-General of the WCED, is negotiating a solution with representatives of the community at the moment.

With regard to the primary schools in Mfuleni, ten classrooms that have been allocated to Mfuleni Primary Nr 2 have been delivered, but are still not ready for use.

Learners and teachers from Mfuleni Primary Nr. 3 have illegally occupied these classrooms since Monday. These learners have all been registered by the WCED, but an interim governing body has not been elected, as was agreed with the WCED.

The conflict between the separate school communities regarding the classrooms impedes on the process to find solutions in Mfuleni.

However, our officials are dealing with the situation continuously and urgently. We will not rest before we find a fair solution to these problems.

We call on all concerned to allow the WCED and representatives of the various schools to negotiate and find proper solutions in the best interest of the learners.