AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement’s Schools Support Centre (SSC) are concerned about the safety of learners and staff of schools in the Pretoria city centre after AfriForum’s community safety team together with the SAPS and taxis assisted in evacuating the Prinshof school for partially sighted and blind children during today’s the riots.
At the request of concerned parents, the community safety team saw to it that the learners and teachers of the school were safely evacuated from the school grounds. The team also escorted the minibus taxis transporting the learners to their various homes and protected them against the riotous protesters.
“The Gauteng education department today left schools to their own devices to protect learners and staff. We expect the department to put the necessary safety measures in place to ensure the safety of learners and occupants of residences,” said Carien Bloem, AfriForum’s manager for education.
“The protection of innocent citizens and especially children against those who want to harm them is a priority for AfriForum. AfriForum welcomes every opportunity to co-operate with law enforcement authorities in order to give effect to this priority,” said Ian Cameron, AfriForum’s head of community safety.
“We request Panyaza Lesufi, MEC for education in Gauteng, to urgently visit the Prinshof school to acquaint himself with the circumstances,” Bloem said.
Schools are encouraged to contact AfriForum to assist them during riots.
AfriForum’s community safety team also conducts safety audits at schools and has safety audit booklets that may assist schools in identifying and counteracting risks in this regard.