The FF Plus in Gauteng warned in 2016 already that learners in die province’s schools will get out of hand and that a situation will be created where youngsters will order adults around if codes of conduct are done away with.
At that stage, the MEC for Education in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, was trying to abolish codes of conduct in schools. (See the FF Plus media release: Gauteng schools: Codes of conduct must stay, 31 August 2016).
Today, a mere 20 months later, a report published in the media reveals how learners in schools have gotten completely out of hand. The FF Plus is concerned that too many learners have already fallen into a state of criminality and that in five years’ time, South Africa may have a totally undisciplined society that has not respect for other people’s lives and/or property.
According to the report, a total of 479 learners were involved in various crimes, like the possession and dealing of illegal substances, bullying and cyberbullying, assaulting teachers and other staff members, assaulting learners with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, fraud, the possession of dangerous weapons, sexual harassment, theft and even attempted murder.
The FF Plus lays the blame for the deterioration of schools at Lesufi’s door. The learners’ behaviour goes to show, once more, that he is utterly incompetent to act as MEC and that he must be dismissed at once.
The report proves that Lesufi’s political interference at schools has caused learners to lose all respect for any form of law and order and rules and regulations.
The FF Plus would, however, like to thank teachers for trying to do their jobs under the present terrible circumstances in Gauteng schools. Thank you also to schools that implement rules and regulations and learners who respect them.
Learners in schools who do respect law and order will one day excel and become the responsible leaders of our country.
Contact details: 060 556 4347
Gauteng schools: Codes of conduct must stay
Philip van Staden
31 August 2016
The FF Plus is concerned that the MEC for Education in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, wants to immediately do away with codes of conduct at schools in the province. This decision follows the events of the past two days at the Pretoria High School for Girls.
In response to this, the party’s MPL in Gauteng, Mr Philip van Staden, says that codes of conduct must be retained in schools and that society needs to be maintained by rules and regulations. Codes of conduct teach children so have respect for themselves and others as well as to obey rules and regulations from a young age, and this establishes law and order in a society.
The FF Plus is concerned that learners in schools will get out of hand and that a situation will be created where youngsters will order adults around. The fact that Lesufi intervened this week because learners, who are still immature and who cannot yet make informed choices, insisted on it is already more than enough cause for concern.
“The FF Plus opposes any form of racism and discrimination, but I don’t think that the MEC really took the time to learn how matters stand. I think he just ran with it, as usual, to prove a point and to display his power as MEC. He didn’t gather all the facts needed to evaluate the situation properly. In this case, we feel that the MEC also acted immaturely.”
Van Staden adds that up to now everyone has had to obey codes of conduct in schools and no one came to harm. So, the question is why is it suddenly a problem now?
“The MEC himself is also subject to a code of conduct in the Gauteng Legislature, just like any other MEC, MPL, MP or councillor in any form of South African government. If he wants to do away with codes of conduct in schools, he is transgressing the oath that he took in 2014 with his inauguration as MEC,” says Van Staden.
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