Note to Editors: The video will be made available upon request
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal is appalled by a video clip currently circulating on social media which shows learners at Durban’s Westridge High School locked behind internal corridor gates, unable to exit the school buildings.
The clip follows last week Friday’s tragedy at Hoërskool Driehoek in Gauteng which saw four learners tragically killed after a concrete slab collapsed. The incident has led to heightened scrutiny when it comes to school safety, emergency planning and escape routes.
While the DA acknowledges that Westridge is a school for special needs learners and that special measures are needed to ensure their safety, these learners are essentially trapped behind the gates and unable to escape in the event of an emergency.
This is not the first such incident at Westridge. In July last year KZN’s Education Portfolio Committee conducted an oversight inspection of the premises after numerous complaints from both parents and learners regarding the school gates. It was established via both the principal and the deputy principal that the internal gates were locked but only after school hours. The local DA councillor also arranged for eThekwini fire inspectors to visit the school where they were given the same assurance.
It is clear from the current video clip that both the principal and deputy principal purposefully misled portfolio committee.
Other findings during the Education Portfolio Committee included rampant corporal punishment and teacher intimidation. At that time the portfolio committee resolved that an urgent district investigation into the school’s practices take place. To date this report remains outstanding. The current situation at Westridge High is a failure of the MEC of Education to act.
Given this latest incident, the DA will today write to KZN Education Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Linda Hlongwa-Madlala to request that the above-mentioned report be tabled before the committee as soon as possible. We will also request that the committee censure both the principal and deputy principal for misleading members.
The Democratic Alliance will continue to fight for learner and teacher safety in KZN’s schools. Education is the most powerful tool in ensuring that millions of people living in poverty can escape to an opportunity filled future.