EFF commemorates Youth Day at Hoërskool Uitsig
“The learner was suspended for seven days. However, irrespective of his temporary suspension, the learner unlawfully entered the school premises and in effect breaching conditions of his suspension.
EFF leadership gathered at Hoërskool Uitsig on Wednesday to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Youth Day on June 16. This followed after an incident at the Centurion school involving a learner last week.
The party leader, Julius Malema, tweeted on Monday describing the venue as “where a learner was assaulted by a security guard for wearing EFF regalia”.
That, after a video emerged of a learner of the said learner, wearing EFF regalia, allegedly being manhandled by a security guard last week.
Dr. Gerhard Maré, principal, confirmed that no learners or staff members were present at the school on Wednesday when the EFF gathered at the school, since it was a public holiday.
“The EFF members gathered in the street outside the school’s premises. Members of police and security companies were present and patrolled the premises.”
Maré said he was satisfied that the programme was run peacefully without any negative incidents taking place.
Steve Mabona, spokesperson of the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), confirmed on Thursday morning that the learner was back at school.
He said the department was aware “of the situation at Hoërskool Uitsig and the incident which occurred on June 4. From the onset, we need to indicate that we condemn the disruption of schooling”.
“Information at our disposal is that the learner in question has a history of defiance and disregard for the school’s discipline system and the Code of Conduct.”
Mabona said the learner has more than 800 demerit points and awaited a formal School Governing Body (SGB) disciplinary hearing.
“The parent of the learner was invited numerous times to the disciplinary meetings, but has never been in attendance.”
Mabona said the department was informed that the parent has agreed to a meeting, and that the department will monitor the situation and intervene accordingly.”
Mabona said on the day of the video incident, the school was launching its academic week, where learners were to wear clothing resembling their desired careers.
“The event took place during a period where the said learner was suspended for seven days.
“However, irrespective of his temporary suspension, the learner unlawfully entered the school premises. And in effect breaching conditions of his suspension.
This, therefore, prompted the security personnel to remove the learner from the schoolyard in line with the school’s Code of Conduct.”
He said the learner’s disciplinary meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, June 9, but did not take place and was rescheduled to be held at a later stage. And that the GDE’s district officials were working closely with law enforcement agencies to monitor the situation at the school.
“We stress that community stakeholders have a role to play in the education of our children in Gauteng.
“However, to ensure that the little time learners have left for school should be used as productively as possible, should be on top of our minds. Especially during this pandemic which has already taken up so much teaching and learning time.”
He said it was in that light that they condemn the disruption of schooling at the school and called “on any stakeholder with a disgruntlement to use the relevant available channels to raise their issues”.
In a SABC news interview with reporter Natasha Phiri, EFF general secretary Marshall Dlamini said the party was there on Wednesday “to stand our ground”.
Dlamini denied the incident had anything to do with discipline but alleged it was racially inspired. He said the learner attended the school’s career day and indicated his aspiration to affiliate with the party and was manhandled because of that.
Cilliers Brink, DA constituency leader and MP for Centurion, said while the full facts of the matter are still to emerge, if in fact there is a matter to resolve, “the EFF should allow the school and the department to resolve the matter”.
“The EFF should stop threatening to disrupt schools and classrooms,” he added.
Mabona indicated on Thursday morning that the department was “still awaiting a report on how a security personnel was managed.”
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