Stop Destroying the Future of Our Children – FEDUSA
16 July 2021
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has called on communities in KwaZulu Natal to stop destroying children’s futures by vandalizing and looting schools. This follows confirmation of disturbing reports by FEDUSA affiliated teachers’ trade unions that a total of 32 schools have been looted and vandalized in the eThekwini and KwaZulu Natal Midlands. This includes a school that has been totally burned down in Pinetown.
Schools with feeding schemes appear to be the targets and particularly vulnerable. Computers and other office equipment won’t be spared in the process as marauding hordes continue their acts of lawlessness with impunity.
“FEDUSA is sickened by images of a school that has been burned to the ground in Pinetown, the apparent reason being that people were looking for food. Having stolen everything in the school, there could be no reason for absolute callous destructiveness of burning down the school. If the intention were to inflict hurt on government, there is the ballot box to do so,” said FEDUSA General Secretary Riefdah Ajam.
Ajam said the education of children is a constitutionally guaranteed right that should be upheld by all adults
“Our Constitution encourages us to prioritise the best interest of the child in any given situation, and education in a secure and caring environment is the best gift that we can give to our children,” she said.
“It is therefore quite disturbing to see adults who are entrusted with defending and promoting this constitutionally enshrined right being; the ones who are callously violating it”.
FEDUSA condemns these acts of lawlessness and callousness in the strongest terms possible and call on security agencies and act swiftly to secure these soft targets and prosecute the criminals.
“Our federation refuses to allow our future generation to be sabotaged by lawlessness when they are already having to play catch up in their studies because of the pandemic and struggling to compete globally in the face of educational resources deficiencies,” she added.
“Our teachers should not be overburdened with healing emotional and psychological scars when this chaos ends. Education breeds confidence, confidence breeds hope and hope breeds peace. We need to protect our education system; our nation deserves nothing less” .
The targeting of school feeding schemes is beginning to make it clear that the food crisis triggered by the senseless looting and burning down of supermarkets and malls is slowly setting in. But the whole mayhem is an unacceptable desecration and soiling of Brand South Africa that should never been allowed to happen in the first place.
In addition to the 32 schools cited, further inventory of the vandalism paints an extremely bleak picture:
Ixopo – Infrastructure in the circuit manager’s office was burnt down
Ugu – Construction material was stolen at Nkonka High School, Dumisa Primary School and Merlewood Secondary School
Amajuba District – Classroom and furniture were burnt down at Ntobeko Primary School
Amajuba District – A library and kitchen were destroyed at Simanganyawo Primary School
Amajuba District – Toilets were vandalized at Zabalaza Primary School and Amadada Secondary School
An urgent call to action by all stakeholders – Government, the DBE, Organised Labour and Community is necessitated without any delay to ensure that the sanctity of education can be protected. FEDUSA believes that adversity can be turned into advantage, as the call to come together is a beginning, keeping together will signify progress and working together can only yield success of this and all future generations.
Ends
(567 Words)
For interviews please contact:
Ms. Riefdah Ajam
FEDUSA General Secretary
079 696 2625
Mr. Ashley Benjamin
FEDUSA Deputy General Secretary
083 258 4433
Ends
(493 Words)
For interviews please contact:
Ms. Riefdah Ajam
FEDUSA General Secretary
079 696 2625
Mr. Ashley Benjamin
FEDUSA Deputy General Secretary
083 258 4433
Issued by:
Frank Nxumalo
Media & Research Officer
072 637 8096
