COSAS statement on burning of schools in Vuwani
5 May 2016
The Congress of South African Students in Limpopo has learned with utter dismay the burning of schools and damage to other public property by the Residents of Vuwani, in the Vhembe region.
This was after the residents were dissatisfied with the demarcation court ruling which put them under the new municipality of Malamulele while they want to remain under the Makhado municipality.
It is a great injustice and violation to children's rights to prevent them from receiving education.
The residents which are burning down schools are a disgrace to the country and the world at large.
We condemn tribalism with the highest contempt it deserves.
It cannot be that as black people we subject this dark cloud upon ourselves.
We have come too far as a country and province to derail ourselves this way.
Those that are not satisfied with the Courts' ruling must exercise and allow the same pathway of justice to prevail.
As South Africans we cannot condone violent and disruptive behaviour to proceed as if it's not a crisis.
We urge the SAPS to strengthen its base regarding making arrests and protecting the little that is left of the schools. If needs be , we call on the Hon Premier Stanley Mathabatha to deploy the SANDF to the area.
An Estimation of 400 million rands is what would cost to reconstruct all the schools burnt in Vuwani.
This is the money that could've been used to help the Province move forward.
The Vhembe region is the best region in the Province in terms of academic excellence.
It has proven numerous times to the country and province that it's not about where one comes from, but where one is going that matters.
The Region is an inspiration to all of us in the Province and there's no doubt all these achievements have been through discipline and dedication.
That is why when we woke up to the news of a violent outbreak in the region, the world stood on it's feet.
We're deeply saddened by the actions taken by the community and we call for a reconsideration of their resolution.
At the end of the day, we are all children of the soil.
Brothers and sisters.
We can't attack each other while we let the enemy pass.
Issued by Ayanda Mokwana, Provincial Chairperson, COSAS, 5 May 2016
