Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, has cancelled his appearance at Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeniging at the Vaal.
Police were forced to fire stun-grenades to defuse a stand-off between protesters and bystanders. Three people have been injured.
Dozens of African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members are protesting outside the school after a high court ruling set aside the Gauteng Education Department’s decision to place 55 English speaking learners at the Afrikaans medium school.
EFF members have thrown objects over the school fence and burned tyres outside the school.
The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says Lesufi has visited the nearby Riverside High School where over 20 learners, who were rejected from Hoerskool Overvaal, have been admitted.
“We are satisfied and constantly liaising with the parents’ representation. We have briefed them on the latest developments. The MEC will not come here and we have confirmed to the parents to say the situation does not allow for the MEC to come here because we have already addressed the representation of the families. The learners are in the classrooms to be taught. The district that is representing us are interacting with the parents on an everyday basis so they can raise their concerns there and we will be there to support them,” he says.
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