Johannesburg - Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi is set to ask the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) to withdraw its investment from the controversial Curro Roodeplaat school in Pretoria North.
This could be seen as an attempt by the MEC to force the closure of the school after its latest racism row.
He threatened to “shake” the school’s foundation on Friday, reiterating that this time the school had “crossed the line”.
Asked if he was legally hamstrung from closing the school, Lesufi would only say, “watch this space”.
He could neither confirm nor deny that he would also open criminal cases against those responsible for the alleged racism, in line with the Equality Act.
The MEC is set to meet with PIC next week, which together with Old Mutual Investment Group SA – through the Schools Fund – raised R440 million in capital for the development of a group of low-fee Curro schools, known as Meridian, to accommodate about 20 000 pupils in 2012.
The MEC will also meet with the school’s board members, after which he is expected to announce his final decision on the school’s fate.
“There will never be an inch of racism that will happen under my watch,” the MEC said.
Saturday Star