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Media Release

26 August, 2009

Sithembele Matiso Secondary reopens

Statement by Donald Grant, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

"Despite the tragic shooting at Sithembele Matiso Secondary on Monday, I am pleased to hear that the school is functioning as normally as can be expected today," said MEC for Education in the Western Cape Donald Grant on Wednesday.

"The school has united together to ensure that learning will continue."

The MEC said that WCED staff had briefed educators at the school this morning and a decision was made by all to stay focused and to ensure that the school achieves better results in honour of the late Mrs Dziba.

Eugene Daniels, Director of the Metropole South Education District of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said, "Mrs Dziba lived for the school and died for this school and we are not going to ignore this sacrifice. We will not allow this incident to pull us or this school down."

Daniels said that the school had reopened with many of the learners and teachers present.

"A few of the teachers have taken sick leave, and are understandably traumatized by the event. However, the school has pulled together and is determined to turn this tragedy into something positive," he said.

"We have organized five curriculum advisors to assist learners and teachers with extra-ordinary curricula support. Counselors are providing further counseling and therapy sessions with the assistance of a service provider. The service provider is organizing a number of motivational sessions involving art and music to assist the learners in coping with the tragedy at the school."

In terms of security at the school, MEC Grant said that every action was being taken to ensure that the school was secure.

"The SAPS are still present at the school and we have organized additional safety volunteers. The WCED, together with its Safe Schools division, will also be looking at how to improve safety measures at the school," he said.

"Safe Schools will be speaking to the staff and safety volunteers on how best to utilize existing safety resources and will discuss how to make provision for personal security."

The MEC will be visiting the school on Thursday upon his return from an inspection tour of the Eden and Karoo Education Districts this week.

"I am fully confident that, with the WCED's and the communities support, the school will come back from this tragedy. We will not let crime and violence affect the future growth of these learners."

For enquiries, contact Bronagh Casey:  072 724 1422 or brcasey@pgwc.gov.za.


Issued by:
Bronagh Casey
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2377
Fax: 021 425 5689

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


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