Angry parents close special school

Angry parents stormed the Khayelitsha Special School in Makebeni Road on Tuesday morning demanding that the school be shut down following a dispute with bus drivers and the management.

Top on the list of their demands is the removal of the principal - who is on sick leave currently- and the investigation into allegations of misconduct and corruption.

The school caters for more 400 disabled pupils from Khayelitsha and surrounding areas who are picked up and returned to their homes daily. Drives downed tools last week after the school failed to raise their pay by an agreed amount of R1500 with effect from April.

One of the parents, Siphokazi Siyokwana, said since the six drivers stopped working their children were not attending school because the matter had not been resolved to satisfaction.

“Out of the blue we received a message from the school secretary saying children must be ready for collection on Monday. Some came and we came here today to shut the school down because there is a lot that is wrong here,” she said.

Parent Sizeka Kwanini who addressed the gathering said the school buses were not roadworthy.

“Recently we received two buses from Astron and unfortunately one was hijacked and it is still impounded because of paperwork. The other buses have discs that show a November expiry date but according to traffic officers who had stopped the buses, they have expired. We cannot risk our children’s lives like this,” said Ms Kwanini.

After some heated engagement with the deputy principal Biz Bizwapi and members of the School Governing Body (SGB), parents who had children at school were informed to collect them.

Bronagh Hammond said the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has been alerted to a protest by parents of the school.

“We sent officials to engage with the parents. Earlier this week, the WCED assisted in resolving a dispute between the school and its bus drivers. The new allegations seem to revolve around the management of the school. We will engage further to determine the facts and look for a resolution,” she said.

A non-governmental organisation working with the disabled, Freedom To The Forgotten, joined the parents on Tuesday.

Its director Sibongiseni Faku said they have been looking at the plight of the pupils at the school and have vowed to help.

“The list of grievances from the parents is not a thumbsuck. I hope the department and the SGB will look into it and act decisively,” he said.