The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape strongly condemns alleged claims by COSATU Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich that the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) was responsible for a fire which led to the vandalising and looting of Uitsig High School on Saturday, 21 September 2019.
Ehrenreich claimed, as reported in Die Son on Monday 23 September 2019, that he was suspicious of the incident, further claiming that he believed it to be part of a plot by the Western Cape Department of Education as part of the school’s closure. Such claims are not only gravely untrue, but reckless, and proof of Ehrenreich’s own agenda to politicise the matter and destabilise efforts by the WCED to accommodate learners in the area.
After a long and exhaustive court battle, Uitsig High school was effectively closed on Friday 20 September 2019. Unfortunately, on Saturday evening the administration block was set alight which led to a vandalism spree by community members where valuable equipment was stolen.
Lorraine Botha, MPP says: “Tony Ehrenreich has opposed the closure of Uitsig High even after the Western Cape High Court ruled in favour of the WCED. His comments are reckless and only serve to provoke unrest in the community which can lead to further violence and looting as experienced over the weekend. These utterances only serve to promote Ehrenreich’s own agenda of destabilising education in the Western Cape”.
MPP Botha adds: “According to the Western Cape Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer, the majority of the equipment was removed by the Department, however, the remaining equipment was meant to be used by other schools in need. The theft of this equipment is a loss to education in our province, but more so, another disadvantage to a vulnerable community.
The Minister made the decision to close Uitsig High based on the following:
- The number of learners at Uitsig High School decreased for the last four years from 460 to 94 learners. On average 1300 learners are accommodated in metro high schools;
- The school has been severely vandalised to the point where no original classrooms could be used;
- The school’s infrastructure was hazardous and no longer offered a conducive learning environment;
- The WCED spent R453 517 on emergency repairs during 2015 and R2 billion to replace mobile schools. This excludes increased security costs; and
- Teachers expressed their disquiet as to their continued safety.
“The Standing Committee on Education conducted an oversight visit in confirmation of the above. Educators and learners will now be well accommodated in neighbouring schools at the start of the 4th Term”, MPP Botha concluded.
The DA in the Western Cape unequivocally rejects claims made by Mr Ehrenreich and will ensure all learners are educated in safe, secure, and resourceful environments to reach their maximum potential despite political agendas to disrupt the service.
