WATCH: Residents picket against children returning to school
The organiser of the picket, André de Bruin, said the manner in which the Department of Education was handling the pandemic was questionable and that not all schools were equal.
RESIDENTS in Wentworth held a peaceful picket on Austerville Drive, just outside Assegai Primary School on Friday, 3 July.
The demonstration, supervised by the police, was to protest against their children returning to school on Monday, 6 July, as per the announcements made by the Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga.
Organiser of the picket, André de Bruin, said the heart of the matter was the alarming rates at which Covid-19 is spreading.
“The reality is you don’t need a matric certificate to see this pandemic, it is killing people, especially in our community.”
“There are underlying and contributing factors. Ninety per cent of these children live with third and fourth generations under one roof – there are grannies and great grannies all sitting with chronic illnesses. Can you imagine, one family can have up to 15 members, what will happen then if one person comes back home infected?” he probed.
He said the manner in which the Department of Education was handling the pandemic was questionable and that not all schools were equal.
“They are comparing ours to the more affluent schools and I think it is disgusting. They want the younger children going back to school but medical scientists are boggled and baffled by this virus, then what do they expect from the ordinary man?”
“I was even told that I may get arrested for what I’m doing, for what, for taking a stand? Am I going to be arrested for exposing the Department of Education’s shortcomings? I am standing up for the children of the same people wanting me arrested and taking a stand for all those who are unable to,” he said.
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