Activists march wearing masks of Education Minister

About 1,000 Equal Education members and supporters marched wearing masks with a photo of the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga. This event was attended by parents, leaners and community members from different areas of Cape Town.

The march was part of the organisation’s efforts to raise awareness on their demand for a government policy on minimum norms and standards for schools infrastructure. EE has brought a case against the Minister of Basic Education which will be heard in Bhisho High Court in the Eastern Cape and will take place on 20 November 2012.

Equal Education chairperson, Yoliswa Dwane, addressing those marching, said Minister Motshekga had failed to fix the school infrastructure crisis in South Africa. She went on to explain that after 17 years of democracy South African learners are still faced with inadequate school infrastructure. Dwane said that during the court case in Bisho members and supporters of Equal Education will be camping outside the court forcing Minister Motshekga to set minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure.

Yolanda Zibekile, a grade 10 learner from Scottsdene high school, also spoke explaining that in her school there are only two toilets that functions well. Zibekile also touched on the school library issue, saying that her school doesn’t have a library and that learners travel in taxis and buses to get access to a library. Zibekile’s worry is that many learners come from disadvantaged families and they cannot afford to have taxi money for travelling to the library.

Zibekile appealed to the Minister Motshekga to set minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure, so that South African learners could get quality education.

Hope Mokgatlhe, a spokeperson for the Department of Basic Education said that the department cannot comment on the norms and standards case because it is before the court and everyone should wait for the court’s decision.