Unsafe conditions force parents to shut down school
Cape Town - Parents of learners at Solomon Qatyana Primary School in Asanda Village have shut down the school, demanding a new building due to unsafe conditions and inadequate facilities.
The school situated in Strand stood empty on Thursday. The gates were locked and teachers parked outside Solomon Qatyana Primary School in Asanda Village.
Parents have been picketing on Hlathi Drive since Monday.
They said the children would return to school once the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has responded to them positively.
South African National Civics Organisation (Sanco) chairperson Thembinkosi Mgculo explained: “The temporary structures were placed more than 10 years ago and we were promised there would be a newly built school.
“Land was identified, and in 2021, we were promised that there would be a school in Nomzamo.
“On 15 January, the department opened a new (primary) school, which is still unnamed and we suggest it is named Solomon Qatyana Primary. They hired six teachers and have 36 learners. We are saying they should take the kids from Solomon Qatyana, who are being taught in prefabs.”
Mgculo said the structures of the primary school are dilapidated.
“Our children are suffering in there; when it’s hot they get heat stroke and when it’s cold, they freeze.
“We have written to the department asking for a meeting with the circuit manager but they have not responded, instead they have sent the police. We are not violent but we just told the teacher we will keep the doors shut until we hear something positive.”
School governing body (SGB) member Zoleka Toni said they are in support of the closure.
“I share the same sentiments as every other parent, I had to fetch my child last week, he had a nosebleed from the heat inside the classrooms.
“We have been waiting for so long for a school, this primary school was built in the parking area of another school, this was a temporary arrangement which now proves to be permanent.”
“We also want new high schools, so our children don’t stay at home doing nothing.”
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond appealed to community members to allow children to go back to school saying they were missing out on valuable teaching and learning time as well as school feeding scheme meals.
“We have lost four days of schooling as a result of this community action at this school and there are further threats to close schools down elsewhere. Denying learners their education rights is not acceptable.
She added the WCED Infrastructure Directorate has indicated that they never committed to replacing the school by 2025.
“We had made a commitment to expand access to schools in the area, and we have done so with various school builds in the area, including the new Lwandle school precinct development, which was opened in January 2025.
“The WCED is open to engaging with the community leaders on this issue. However, we cannot condone any disruption to schooling. We remind communities that the SA Schools Act indicates the following: ‘Any person who, unlawfully and intentionally interrupts, disturbs or hinders any official educational activity of a school, is guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to a fine or imprisonment’.”