Cape Town - Locals have opened their hearts to the plight of Masiphumelele matric candidates after unrest in the area forced the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to move them to an undisclosed location.
Earlier this week the Cape Argus reported that 206 pupils from Masiphumelele High School had been bused to a temporary location last weekend to ensure their safety and that they could write their final exams.
The department has since moved them to another location.
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said the department was grateful for the generous contributions of food and other items from members of the public, NGOs and companies.
“This has been a co-ordinated effort between the facility where the children were being accommodated, education officials and a local NGO. The items received included vegetables, cereal, loaves of bread, cartons of milk, tins of coffee, jams, peanut butter as well as toiletries, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary towels and other items. Members of the public are still pledging their help.”
She said the pupils would remain at the new location until the matric exams have been completed or until calm has been restored within the Masiphumelele community.
Chaperones have been arranged for the pupils and Shelver said study spaces had been made available to them.
Unrest in Masiphumelele has been in the news for several weeks.
On September 22 the Cape Argus reported that there had been a spate of vigilante attacks in the area.
On September 28 Community Safety MEC Dan Plato conducted a safety oversight visit to the area.
A day after, the Cape Argus reported that residents had blocked off Kommetjie Road during a protest against the arrest of seven men for allegedly beating and shooting one man to death and then beating and burning another, leaving him seriously injured.
Members of the public and organisations can drop off their donations at the WCED circuit satellite office situated at the Fish Hoek School Clinic on 5th Avenue in Fish Hoek. The matric exams are scheduled to conclude on November 27.
Cape Argus
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