The Provincial Government of the Western Cape is seeking an urgent interdict to remove people who occupied the Florida Primary School in Ravensmead over the weekend.

Security guards placed by the Metropole North district office of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) at the school said that those who had occupied the school had threatened their lives.

About 650 learners from Manzomthombo Secondary School in Mfuleni previously attended classes at Florida Primary pending the completion of a new high school in Mfuleni, which will open at the start of the 2006 school year.

The WCED transported the 650 learners from Manzomthombo because the high school was full. The new high school in Mfuleni will help to ensure places for all high school learners in the township.

The WCED plans to use the school to relieve pressure on accommodation on other schools in the new year.

Florida Primary School no longer operates as a primary school. Those now occupying the school illegally are apparently doing so for housing purposes.

Said Education MEC, Cameron Dugmore: "I urge the community to voluntarily vacate the premises, in the interest of learners. I have sympathy with their socio-economic conditions, but a school cannot be used for housing purposes.

"If those who are illegally occupying the premises do not move soon, the WCED will have not choice but to ask the police to evict the illegal residents so that the department can prepare the premises for the intake of high school learners in January next year."

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi: 082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.