Fourteen schools in Manenberg, Cape Town, will be closed for the rest of the week because of gang violence threats.
|||Cape Town - Fourteen schools in Manenberg, Cape Town, will be closed the next two days because of gang violence threats, Western Cape education MEC Donald Grant said on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, the safety of our learners and educators has continued to be threatened in Manenberg. Some of our educators have reported to (the) metro central district office for duty instead of their schools,” he said in a statement.
Grant said the decision to close the schools was made after consulting teachers.
Provincial government leaders would meet on Thursday with a representative group of these teachers to discuss a way forward.
Grant said his department had directed a great deal of resources and support to Manenberg since the outbreak of gang violence.
“The department is doing all it can to protect learners and educators in school but it is unfortunately unable to ensure peace and safety within the community,” he said.
“Our officials and educators are not law enforcers. Law enforcement is the responsibility of the SA Police Service.”
Grant said schools and the department relied on the police to maintain order.
“Our learners' and educators' safety remains our primary concern, along with the longer term loss of teaching and learning time.”
Sapa