Interdict against Gauteng Education Department fails
The High Court in Pretoria has struck an application by two schools in the city off the roll, saying the application is not urgent.
Hoërskool Montana and Hoërskool Overkruin applied for an interdict against the Gauteng Education Department, to prevent them from placing English learners in the two schools.
MEC Panyaza Lesufi says he was in discussion with the two schools before today's court proceedings.
"The community feels that the demographics around Montana Hoërskool has changed. That school has more Afrikaans classes than English classes. They were persuading me to persuade the school to add additional classes. We are in discussions with the school to check whether it is possible for them to expand their English classes," says Lesufi.
Lesufi says the interdict took him by surprise.
"We were in discussions. I don't know what happened. The negotiations probably fell through. We were confronted with court papers yesterday saying we must appear in court today, because the schools feel that they are under pressure," says Lesufi.