National Congress of School Governing Bodies welcomes decision to close schools
The National Congress of School Governing Bodies has welcomed the decision by cabinet to close public schools for the next four weeks.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday that the country’s public schools will all close their doors from July 27.
The decision comes after mounting pressure from teachers unions and some parents for schools to shut down until the end of Covid-19 peak.
The organisation's Thabang Motloung says they have called on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshega to scrap the 2020 academic year.
"This is a decisive way in which the government can intervene in this situation. It shows that decision to reopen schools before was not a good move by the Department of Basic Education.
"The department failed to meet its own norms and school infrastructure, now they cannot be trusted to keep our childrens safe when the country still learning about how to handle this pandemic affecting learners.”
He says some schools still experience major problems, including shortage of water, shortage of protective gear and pupils walking to school.
"This is a victory to us as organisations representing all school governing bodies, especially black majority in South Africa, because we've been vocal since the reopening of schools on 8th June.”
He called on Ramaphosa to direct the Special Investigating Unit to investigate corruption linked to the procurement of protective gear.
Ramaphosa on Thursday confirmed that he has signed a proclamation for the SIU to probe all procurement related to Covid-19.
ALSO READ
Ramaphosa: Public schools 'to take a break' for 4 weeks
This comes after mounting pressure from unions and parents to shut schools amid the growing Covid-19 infections. The country now has over 400 000 cumulative cases and over 6000 fatalities. Speaking from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, Ramaphosa said the schools will be closed from July 27.