The DA will pressure the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, to take urgent action in respect of the charge laid at Kimberley Police Station on 11 August 2014 relating to the doors of 54 schools in Kuruman being shut for almost three months.

17 000 children in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district in the Northern Cape have been denied schooling since 5 June this year. The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, failed yesterday to resolve the situation. These learners will continue to go untaught for an indefinite period of time.
 
The so-called Road Forum is protesting for the tarring of a road. The Forum has locked all schools in the area, and is intimidating children and teachers to the extent that they are unable to open the schools. Where they have tried to continue teaching regardless, the protestors have burnt parts of school buildings.

 
We are grateful that the Minister has become involved, but she needs to do more. It has become clear that the Premier, Sylvia Lucas, and Education MEC in the Northern Cape, Grizelda Cjiekella, have failed to respond with any level of urgency or clarity of purpose. In fact, the MEC stated that she could do nothing, since the issue was "not education-related".


The Constitution implores the national Minister to take responsibility and take steps to ensure that these 17 000 learners return to school.

 
She must surely work with her partners in cabinet, including the Minister of Police.

 
The Constitution provides every child with the right to a basic education.

 
The South African Schools Act, following the spirit of the Constitution, declares that any person who is guilty of preventing children of compulsory school-going age from attending school, commits a criminal offence.
 
Minister Motshekga must send the strongest of messages to these opportunity thieves. If you stop our children from attending school, you will end up in jail. The time has now come for meaningful action by the Police Minister to arrest those responsible for vandalism and intimidation.

 
In addition, Minister Motshekga must demand a plan of action from the MEC. The Minister has every right to do this. It is astonishing that neither she nor the MEC have taken any concrete action to date.
 
 
Many of these children were similarly affected in 2012, when exactly the same protest occurred. The DA believes that it is crucial that these learners return to school particularly in the lead-up to matric final exams.
 

 
If we are to give learners in the Northern Cape any shot at passing their grades, particularly Grade 12, and access higher education and jobs, Minister Motshekga and Minister Nhleko must act now.