Residents of Klipspruit West have barricaded the K43 Highway with burning tyres this morning after torching a Putco bus in a protest against the appointment of black principal in the area.
Anthony Williams from the Patriots for Equality told The Star that the protest was sparked by the Department of Education’s failure to listen to their pleas of rescinding the current incumbent due to a flawed process.
“We are sick and tired of talking. Nobody listens to us so the community had no option but to take matters into their hands,” Williams said.
“We’ve submitted a letter to Minister Angie Motshega and to MEC Panyaza Lesufi and they have not even acknowledged the letter. So in a public meeting last night the community said there is no respect from the side of government they want them to come down here to talk to the community and address the issue around Sadtu’s operation Vat Alles where they have decided to make sure that every principal and deputy principal belongs to African Black people and no coloured teachers will assume those positions and that is the racism that we cannot allow,” he said.
The Gauteng Education Department appointed a senior official to oversee the school for the time being. Williams criticised Lesufi’s approach to the matter.
He accused him of not acting in the interests of learners and the community because he unilaterally dissolved the school governing body without due process being followed.
One parent, however, said it was pointless to be protesting over the appointment of just one principal. The woman said the protest was making it difficult for them to go to work because both schools that her children attend were now shut down because of the demonstration in the area.