Sizani stops traffic

Angry parents locked the gates of Sizani Combined Primary School then led pupils as they toyi-toyed, blocking Fox Hill Lane and disturbing traffic on Salt Rock Road on Tuesday morning.
The school has not had a maths teacher for grade eight and nine since the beginning of the year and the septic tank is so full the school’s toilets no longer flush.
These were the main issues of unhappiness that brought on the protest.
“The grade nines are supposed to write maths tests next week,” said Sinenhlanhla Mgoqi, one of the parents who orchestrated the demonstration.
The septic tank has been left unmaintained for three years, and it is suspected to be polluting the fresh water stream neighbouring the school.
Several attempts by Salt Rock councillor Ann McDonnell to get the matter resolved have been unsuccessful.
McDonnel has been corresponding with provincial senior education official Dr Devan Singh and said she was disappointed with the results.
“Children’s health is at stake and some sensitivity would not hurt,” said McDonnell.
“Siza Water is also threatening to shut off our water because we have no funds to pay the bills,” said another parent, Mphile Qwabe.
Umhlali SAPS spokesperson captain Percy Buthelezi said the strike had been peaceful and without any incidents, though police were “concerned with such young children being involved.”
Specialised Rescue Unit’s Quentin Power, who was present when the commotion began agreed that the protesting pupils were not violent, however  he said they did bang on the side of cars that had slowed to pass the children.
“The police arrived shortly afterwards and moved the pupils to the side of the road where they continued to toyi-toyi.”
As the demonstration began to move back towards the school, other parents arrived and collected their children. They were concerned that their children, some as young as five, were involved in a strike near a busy road.
“We thought our children were at school, but we got a call saying they were in the road, so we are coming to pick them up,” said one mother who did not want to be named.
When the pupils returned to the school, the gates remained locked. Sizani principal, Ntombenhle July, declined to comment, saying simply, “The parents have said enough.”
Dr Singh arrived to address the parents amid the ongoing commotion of the pupils demonstrating.
He said the septic tank was taking strain because the school was built for 150 pupils, but now contained around 700 and squatter camps now blocked the road that had once been used by trucks to drain the tank.
According to Singh the education department had since made provision for the department of works to get to the septic tank through neighbouring estate, Mount Richmore.
“The department of works must get permission from the owners in writing, and then they will move in,” he said.
“I cannot tell you that tomorrow the teacher will definitely be here, I am not the director,” he said, promising however that he would take the information back to Ilembe district director, Charlotte Vilakazi.
The crowd wanted to know why the director did not come herself, if she was the one who could give answers, or why Dr Singh did not come prepared to give an answer, since the missing teacher had been an issue since January 15, to which Singh responded that he accepted their complaint.
“Hopefully there will be a result by tomorrow. No problem is insurmountable. During the course of this week we will find solutions to these problems,” said Singh.
The protesting parents promised to continue to the demonstration until the problems are solved.