Back off to closing schools welcomed

The Western Cape ANC welcomes the fact that the DA-run Western Cape government backed off from its plan to at all cost and arbitrary close several poor black and mostly Afrikaans schools in the province.

The ANC has consistently warned the MEC & provincial department that it is wasting millions and from the start said it is a fruitless exercise. The ANC congratulates all those who steadfastly opposed the protracted process until victory and sanity came.

Western Cape ANC spokesperson on education Theo Olivier says: "The ANC also thanks its provincial leader Marius Fransman who from the beginning supported communities in the interest of the affected children to oppose the undue closure of mostly rural and farm schools.

"What we have learned from this is that taxpayer money was abused as the hubris DA does not listen to the poor or care for them. The arrogance of premier Helen Zille's institutionalised racism shone through.

"We now want to see the department's plan to support those schools who had been victimised for four years. They must be resourced, their budgets fixed, infrastructure or maintenance addressed and stationary or learner material supplied to empower the learners. If not, the ANC will support efforts to get legal relief to correct the situation."

The ANC says it will keep a close watch on the DA-run administration to make sure inequalities are eliminated.

Statement issued by Theo Oliver, ANC Western Cape spokesperson on education, February 10 2015

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