The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education concluded its oversight programme to schools in the Northern Cape “utterly disappointed” with the absence of the MEC for Education and his head of department (HOD).
The committee visited the Upington area yesterday and on Monday it visited schools in the Springbok area.
Committee Chairperson Ms Joy Maimela said the committee needed responses from these senior people in authority. “We are disappointed. We feel disrespected that these senior officials and accounting officers did not attend. We resolved to call the (provincial) minister and the HOD. We are extremely unhappy with their absence,” Ms Maimela said.
The committee yesterday visited Duineveld Hoërskool, Pabalelo High School and Marcus Mbetha Secure Care Centre where underage children in conflict with the law are being housed.
Duineveld Hoërskool in Upington made the news last month when a video went viral on social media of a learner repeatedly using the k word. Three other learners were visible in the video. It has been confirmed that the learners are from Hoërskool Duineveld. In the video, which has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people, the pupil and three others join a live TikTok chat with a man identified as content creator @UncleSeeno, calling him a “k*****” and a “n*****”.
Ms Maimela said the committee felt the sanctions applied by the school’s disciplinary hearing were too light. “We are further shocked that the learner demographics at this school do not speak to the demographics of Upington. The area has many more coloured and black inhabitants, yet the majority of learners in this school are white. How is it possible?” Ms Maimela said.
The committee also noted with concern that Duineveld Hoerskool’s application forms for placement from Grade 9 to Grade 12, its admission policy and its language policy are all only available in Afrikaans. “This is an indirect way of excluding non-Afrikaans speaking people. If a black parent is given an application form in Afrikaans and does not understand it, what does it say?” emphasized Ms Maimela.
She indicated that the committee also took issue with district education officials, as they are responsible for the acceptance and placement of Grade 8 learners. “What criteria is used to accept or decline?” Ms Maimela asked.
Committee Member Mr Sedukanelo Louw also took issue with the fact that when the school eventually issued a media statement regarding the incident, it was also only in Afrikaans. “How is this possible? It was a further insult to our people. The person and people that were offended and humiliated are not Afrikaans speaking. Yet the school issue a media statement only in a language they don’t understand,” he said.
Another committee Member, Ms Pretty Xaba-Ntshaba, said it is concerning that learners as young as 17, born in a democratic South Africa, still use language like that.
Ms Maimela also indicated that the programmes introduced by the school to address the matter – such as talks on the correct use of cell phones for social media – do not address racism, “which clearly is an issue. It sounds like you’re teaching them how to use it not to be caught out,” she said.
The committee also visited Pabalelo High School and had serious concerns about overcrowding and underfunding at the school. “Water and hygiene also need attention,” Ms Maimela said.
The committee’s last stop was the Marcus Mbetha Secure Care Centre. The centre provides education to the learners during their stay there. “We want to commend the centre for the work they do, making sure that these kids are not forgotten and giving them skills for when they need to integrate into society,” said Ms Maimela.
“Overall, the two days we spent at schools in the Northern Cape were frank, honest, and fruitful. We will follow up on commitments that were made to ensure that it is implemented,” Ms Maimela said.
The committee’s focus will move to the Western Cape today with visits to schools in Cape Town.
Rajaa Azzakani
9 October 2024
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