Uitsig High to remain open

Cape Flats learners can breathe easier after a court ruled that their badly vandalised school remain open, and that education authorities be held responsible for repairs and security.

Uitsig High School, represented by Cosatu leader Tony Ehrenheich, has been in dispute with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) who wanted the school shut down.

On Friday, Uitsig residents walked out of the Western Cape High Court victorious when the judge ordered the WCED to deploy two security guards at the school on a 24-hour basis, restore electricity and drinking water, and provide separate toilets for males and females.

Ehrenreich celebrated the ruling.

“Cosatu is delighted with the court order that compels the WCED to fix the school as a matter of urgency,” he said.

“This court order was handed down telling the WCED in no uncertain terms that they were wrong in their actions in relation to the school closure. The order ensures that the school can now continue as any other school.

“This signal of stability will now send a clear signal to the community that the school is going to be around and they can come and register their children for next year.

“The court ruling will also send a clear signal to the criminals who loot the school with the blessing of the WCED, that the school is not to be vandalised as it is central to the learners’ futures.

“The WCED had as recently as the day before the court case put up notices across the community about the school closing in the hope that the vandals would see this as a signal to loot school. In spite of the WCED loss in the court case, they are still trying to get the school to close, with their insidious actions.”

Paddy Attwell, spokesperson for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, says the WCED has agreed to suspend their court action, but the minister remains determined to shut down the school following a consultation process.

“The agreement did not prevent the department from continuing with formal procedures to close the school, in line with the SA Schools Act,” said Attwell.

He added that the minister said in her letter to the SGB that reasons for the proposed closure include low learner numbers and the condition of the buildings, which has been severely vandalised despite efforts to curb this.”