WATCH: Police and GDE officials held hostage by the community
Frustrated parents and community members decided to take the law in to their hands after being let down by the GDE on numerous occasions
Roodepoort Police and Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) officials were recently held hostage by furious parents and community members from Durban Deep at the Durban Deep Primary School.
Apparently, the GDE has not kept its promises to build a new school with new infrastructure for the community.
Frustrated parents and community members decided to take the law into their own hands after being let down by the GDE on numerous occasions.
In a meeting that took place at the school on the morning of 13 February, between parents, Roodepoort Police officers and officials of GDE, the community members decided to take action and show their frustration. While the meeting was in session, members of the community and parents went out and closed the gate, locking the officials inside the school premises. The community burned tyres and a Jojo tank. They then began chanting outside the gate.
https://www.facebook.com/nomalungelo.ndimande.9/videos/2140292256064820/
According to some parents, the GDE promised them a new school. A year later, no school has been built. The parents stated that the current building is not fit to house a school as it does not have taps, toilets or even a playground. One of the parents told the Record journalist that her child was bitten by a snake that came out of a hole in the classroom. It was also stated that the mobile toilets are not hygienic for learners as the girls are often rushed to the hospital due to urinary tract infections. The school operated for years with an inadequate supply of water. This led to school learners falling ill from drinking contaminated water. Last year, numerous children were hospitalised after drinking water contaminated with worms at the school.
The community stated that before they release the officials, they demand that the MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, personally visits the school. They are also demanding a new school and requesting that the old mine offices around the school be demolished. They also demand running water and proper toilet facilities.
https://www.facebook.com/nomalungelo.ndimande.9/videos/2140301072730605/
The Record is still awaiting comment from the Roodepoort Police spokesperson, Captain Juanita Yorke.
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