Gauteng Education closes Roodepoort Primary School

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi.

Image credit: enca.com

The MEC has strongly condemned the behaviour of the community members who are disrupting schooling.

"I have extended my hand to this community several times, what is happening now is provocation beyond endurance", the MEC said on Friday.

He said such behaviour was "unnecessary" and "has a negative impact on learners as they are losing valuable classroom time".

The department will approach the South Gauteng High Court to seek an interdict against the community members who are disrupting school.

The interdict is expected to prevent them from "perpetrating any acts which are violent and disruptive in nature" against the learners and or employees of the department.

Parents of learners at Roodepoort Primary have been urged to place their children at neighbouring schools such as Princess Primary School, Culembeek Primary, and Laer Skool Die Ruiter.

The department said the Johannesburg West District Office will be at hand to assist these parents with the placement of these learners.

Also, operational centres for parents who want to enquire about placement of learners at alternative schools has been set up. These are located at the Davidsonville Community Hall in Roodepoort, Matholeville Community Hall in Roodepoort, as well as Mezodo Technical School in Dobsonville.

The centres will be operational from 20 April 2015, between 9am at noon.

The department said it will not tolerate any form of lawlessness and will deploy law enforcement agencies to the school to deal decisively with anyone who seeks to cause anarchy at the school.