Statement by Cameron Dugmore, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

Education MEC Cameron Dugmore has expressed his appreciation at the schools in the Delft area who had come to the aid of 152 learners affected by the evictions from the N2 Gateway project.

Evicted parents have reported that their children are not attending school because they need to be washed, they lost uniforms and books during the eviction and because they cannot feed their children.

The schools and number of learners affected are: Leiden Primary (36), The Hague (34) Kairos Primary (28); Leiden Avenue (22); Leiden High School (20); Voorbrug High School (12). This gives a total of 152 learners.

The Metropole North District Office of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) surveyed school attendance in the area last week and found that attendance was normal, except for The Hague Primary School, where attendance was down by about 40%.

The learners identified to date originally came from about seven areas, including Ravensmead, Bonteheuwel, Mitchell's Plain, Langa, Wesbank, Elsies River and Bellville.

Two of the affected schools have responded well to the situation. Staff have decided to:

• Provide venues where pupils can wash in the morning before school starts
• Provide towels, face cloths and soap
• Issue books and encourage donations of uniforms
• Serve hot porridge in the mornings and food from the school feeding scheme during the day
• A venue for studying and doing homework in the afternoons

The schools see the initiative as reasonably easy to implement, given that they are each dealing with about 30 learners who were living in the N2 Gateway housing.

The Metropole North District Office has written to schools in the area, to commend the schools who have responded to the situation to date, and to encourage others to follow their example.

Said MEC Dugmore: “Whilst I support the order of court as government’s first responsibility is towards the legitimate beneficiaries, I nevertheless want to thank those schools that have responded to this humanitarian crisis and for putting in place temporary relief measures for the learners.”

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

Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za

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