Campaign to shut down schools in Eldorado Park
Community members in Eldorado Park have vowed to shut down all schools in the area for the rest of the academic year.
This comes amid growing unease in some quarters over the decision to reopen schools amid the surge in Covid-19 infections.
A local residents association, dubbed the Local Development and Economic Civil Association (LDECA), says the decision was taken at a meeting on Wednesday night.
ALSO READ: Outrage over alleged rape of girl (2) at George Mukhari Hospital
“The meeting was attended by school governing bodies, parents, concerned principals and teachers. The meeting resolved all schools will be shutdown from Friday for the remaining 2020 syllabus year,” says spokesperson Golden Miles Bhudu.
The community is also calling on Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga to personally collect their memorandum of grievances.
The call to shut down schools in Eldorado Park echoes a similar call by One South Africa Movement leader Mmusi Maimane, who has called for a nationwide school stay-away on Friday.
The return of pupils to school comes amid a massive spike in the infection rate, especially in the country’s economic hub Gauteng.
More than 13 000 new infections were recorded around the country in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday night.
Gauteng is now officially South Africa’s Covid-19 epicentre, accounting for 34.2% of the country’s total infections.