Letter: Self-defeating mob mentality

Peru Naidu of Ballito is amazed that children are being targeted by their own communities: With reference to the article “Protesters Close Schools” (Courier, August 17), I never cease to be amazed at the acts of wilful destruction by adults against their own children.

As if the hated Bantu Education Act did not disadvantage the majority of our people in the past, it appears that our children are being further disadvantaged by the very people who are supposed to be looking after their interests.

When schools and libraries are being burnt and children are prevented from attending schools, senseless destruction of critical assets are being perpetuated after successive generations.

The actions of the community at Shakaskraal Primary, last week, is an example of a self-defeating mob mentality.

The children of officials are not handicapped – many of them are attending private schools. I find it difficult to accept that, again, vulnerable children are being targeted by their own communities!

Whether the grievances are valid or not, surely recourse to the governing body structure should be the first option? In the absence of which, the hand of mischiefmakers can be identified. Perhaps the question to be investigated by the education authorities is: how many of these so-called community members are bona fide parents of children attending the school?

For the past four-and-a-half years, the school has been under the control of an acting principal.

The permanent incumbent is out of the school situation, on suspension, and being paid a full salary. Perhaps this could be a valid reason for parents to militate – albeit in a peaceful manner!

How often have we come across situations where senior personnel are languishing at home, indefinitely and being fully paid, without the department of education bringing an end to this wanton wastage of money!

Even where schools have serious infrastructure challenges, as in the case of Lloyd Combined School, in Groutville, the empty promises of senior officials merely tend to inflame the ire of parents, and innocent officials have to bear the brunt.

Comments by the education authorities that those blocking roads and preventing children from attending school will be dealt with, must be taken seriously in the context of getting our children back to respecting the ethos of our schools.

On the demand by the community that the principal must be removed, Mr Kwazi Mthethwa, spokesperson for the KZN dept of Education, says that persons wishing to resort to anarchy will have action taken against them.

These comments should be welcomed and must be enforced. Empty threats, like false promises, merely add fuel to the fire.