Zille must quit, says ANCYL

Western Cape premier Helen Zille should quit after a court decision on Wednesday to set aside a decision to close 17 schools, the ANC Youth League said on Wednesday.

 

"It is disgusting that... Zille fully backed MEC for education Donald Grant's stubborn and heartless action to close these schools without due consultation and proper plans put in place," ANCYL provincial task team convenor Muhammad Khalid Sayed said.

 

"The African National Congress Youth League welcomes the Western Cape High Court's decision."

 

Judges Andre le Grange and Nape Dolamo ruled that the reasons given for the closures were brief and that the public consultation process followed was inadequate.

 

They set aside Grant's decision, made in October to go into effect from December 31. He and his department were ordered to pay the legal costs of the schools and their governing bodies.

 

The SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) said the court's decision was a victory for education in the country.

 

"The court ruling... has vindicated Sadtu," the union in the province said in a statement.

 

"Our democratic courts have once again come to the favour of the poor, working class learners and parents in the Western Cape."

 

Sadtu said it would not allow bullies in the provincial education department to jeopardise the future of poor children.

 

"We urge Grant and Zille to respect the courts and not to waste money with an appeal."

 

- Sapa