Thanks to mediation by the FF Plus, the Northern Cape Department of Education has made two additional classrooms available to accommodate learners who were initially turned away by the overfull Hartswater High School (Harties).
Harties serves the community of Hartswater and surrounding areas.
The community was outraged this year when Grade 8 learners, who had attended Hartswater Primary School last year and applied in time, were denied access to the school because it was already filled to capacity.
When the academic year commenced, learners from other regions, even as far as from the North West province, were reportedly enrolled at the school without filling out applications beforehand.
A week of intense negotiations with the Northern Cape Department of Education ensued.
The FF Plus councillor in the Phokwane Local Municipality, Ms Estelle Davies, attended these meetings. With the mediation of the FF Plus's Northern Cape MPL, Mr Danie Coetzee, she was able to contact the relevant officials.
On Monday, the Department finally agreed to provide two new classrooms where lessons will be taught in English.
These temporary classrooms will be equipped with air conditioners. In the meantime, English classes are presented in the school hall.
It means that 20 children who still did not know last week whether they would have a place in school have been assured and can turn up for school this week.
Without politicizing a sensitive topic like education, Davies performed her duty as community leader and councillor.
The recent turn of events proves that a dispute, which seems to be heading for a clash, can be settled with the right attitude.
Solutions such as these buy time, but also highlight the necessity of a school building programme in the province.
