Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane faced a challenging crowd of disgruntled parents during his visit to Oakdale Secondary School in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg. The visit came after a Grade 8 student was tragically stabbed to death in an incident that occurred outside the school premises.
A Grade 10 student was also injured and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. The incident is believed to have been influenced by gang violence among students from various schools in the area. The South African Police Service (Saps) is currently investigating the matter.
As Chiloane arrived at the school, community members of Ennerdale staged demonstrations demanding the presence of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. Frustration and anger were evident among the parents, with one resident stating, “The minister must come here, not the MEC.
[ Grade 8 Pupil Stabbed To Death, Another Hospitalised After Fight Outside Joburg School ]
Our child died.” Other residents echoed the sentiment, exclaiming, “Enough is enough.” During the exchange with parents, one concerned father accused the ANC government of inaction, stating that they were “doing nothing” to protect their children.
He urged the authorities to take immediate action, emphasizing that the safety of their children should be a priority. The father expressed his disappointment with empty promises and called for concrete measures to address the ongoing violence in the school.
In response, MEC Chiloane assured the parents that the provincial department would enhance security measures at the school. He outlined plans to deploy security guards on a 24-hour basis, with a rotation of over 10 guards in two shifts.
Additionally, a dog would be present during the night to provide further security. Chiloane acknowledged the importance of safeguarding the school’s infrastructure and announced the construction of a fence, which would commence on Monday.
Recognizing the need for an adequate number of teachers, Chiloane assured the parents that the department was addressing the issue. He mentioned the deployment of mobile schools to alleviate the pressure on overcrowded classrooms.
Furthermore, the establishment of a satellite school in Lawley would facilitate the transfer of students from Oakdale Secondary School and other identified schools.
Speaking to reporters, MEC Chiloane expressed concern over the incident and emphasized the importance of parental involvement in instilling discipline in children. He urged parents to work closely with the school to address disciplinary issues effectively.
Chiloane also clarified that the security measures implemented would not be permanent but would remain in place until the school’s situation improved. He assured the parents that patrollers would be present permanently to ensure ongoing security.
MEC Chiloane stated that the Gauteng Education Department would not conduct an independent investigation into the stabbing incident, as they would await the conclusions of the police investigation.
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