Issued by: North West Communication Service
17 February 1998
1.1 The M.E.C. for Education in the North West Province Mr Z.P. Tolo visited Schweizer-Reneke on 16/02/98. The purpose of his visit was to receive first hand information and a detailed report from the district and circuit officials around the situation at Hoerskool Schweizer-Reneke.
1.2 The Circuit Manager, Mr Mojaki briefed the M.E.C. on arrival by tabling a detailed report from 5 February 1998 up to yesterday morning.
1.3 The M.E.C. then proceeded to meet other stakeholders including the Task Team that was assembled by the community to intervene in situation of Hoerskool Schweizer-Reneke.
1.4 The entourage of the M.E.C. also visited the school itself where a lengthy meeting was held with the principal, the Governing body, Task Team as well as the Mayor in capacity as the first citizen of the Town.
1.5 This meeting mainly considered the type of punishment meted out to the culprits as the Task Team was not happy that the governing body had actually been inconsistent with their own code of conduct by warning the culprits instead of imposing a maximum penalty which is 10 days suspension in terms of their Code of Conduct.
1.6 It was agreed that a further meeting of the governing body will sit to review the punishment and see if they had erred by not suspending the boys forthwith.
1.7 The M.E.C. also had the opportunity to address the students (black, white and coloured) although blacks and coloureds were addressed separately because they were not at school on 16/02/98 for fear of attacks following the events of Friday, 13 February 1998.
1.8 In his task to all students the message of the M.E.C. was the same. He emphasised that all the learners are South African children, that they are the future leaders of this country and must begin to learn doing things together being it Sports, Singing, Cultural activities, learning and other school activities. He further told them that racism and discrimination will not be tolerated, in any institution of learning in the Province and in the country in general.
2. Resolutions
2.1 It was resolved that the governing body will revisit the punishment meted out to the perpetrators.
2.2 the governing body should co-opt parents of black students.
2.3 That the SRC and the Governing co-opt black learners and parents to allocate for their particulars in this structures.
2.4 That the circuit manager will in the interim visit the school regularly to monitor the situation and make the necessary reports.
2.5 The M.E.C. is to institute a team comprising representation from Human Rights Commission, the Department, the Governing body, the Task Team and other relevant people from other professional bodies.
2.6 This team will be given its terms of reference but among others, they will investigate allegations of racism on the part of educators at Hoerskool and also suggest programmes to assist transformation in the school. The team will report directly to the M.E.C.
Lastly the M.E.C. encouraged all learners to return to school after being assured by the police that all efforts will be done to ensure that they are safe. The principal has the responsibility to ensure that the Culture of Learning, Teaching and Service is promoted at the school and that all students are safe.
(signed) MR Z.P. TOLO M.E.C. FOR EDUCATION