“We are not going anywhere, the cowards must come out” warn women activists Women Waging War convener Milly Wolfe protested outside the offices of the Northern Cape Department of Education offices this week
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
WOMEN Waging War Against GBVF, abuse, inequality, and poverty branded education officials as “cowards” when no one emerged from their offices to address them during a protest this week.
A group of 11 people were left standing outside the gates of the Northern Cape provincial Department of Education during a national children’s rights campaign held on April 8.
Women Waging War convener Milly Wolfe used a loudhailer to request that security open the locked gates and allow them access to the MEC or HOD for Education.
“We have made countless appointments, yet we are treated like non-entities and are met with hostilities, the MEC must go. We don’t need large numbers, it is the message that counts. Our children are not safe at schools,” Wolfe stated.
She believed that sex pests were being handled “with kid gloves” by the department.
“We demand the release of the report into the alleged rape of 15 pupils at a local high school. These evil deeds have been covered up while the suspect has left the province. All teachers and officials must be vetted – some officials were hired despite having criminal records. According to the National Association of School Governing Bodies there are 16,000 teachers employed at schools. It is as if it is business as usual for the department. We are not barbaric idiots, we are concerned mothers and parents.”
Wolfe insisted that those implicated in sexual offences should be charged and prosecuted.
“Rapes at schools are being swept under the carpet.”
Isandla non-profit organisation board member Natalie Molope called for transparency on institutional responses to abuse in schools.
“Officials are not bothered because it is not their children who are being harmed. If no action is taken, we are not afraid of taking the law into our own hands. We can no longer afford to be quiet – let them try and victimise us – we have many more people who are standing behind us.”
The school involved acknowledged, via social media, the “reckless” allegations of rape made against a former educator and stated that the matter had been referred to the Department of Education and the SAPS at the time.
“The safety and well-being of our pupils have always been and remain our highest priority. We have stringent safeguarding policies to ensure a secure and supportive environment for all our pupils.”
“We are not going anywhere, the cowards must come out” warn women activists A group of 11 people gathered outside the Department of Education as part of a children's rights campaign
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe stated that the department had not received prior notice of the intended protest.
“We have committed to engage the members of the organisation formally during a meeting scheduled for next week.”
He confirmed the seriousness of the allegations made against the former educator.
“We previously offered them the opportunity to formally lay charges with the SAPS. The department has always prioritised the safety of educators and pupils. Therefore we have reported all cases where educators are found guilty of sexual related cases to the South African Council of Education (SACE) to de-bar or scrap the implicated educators from the roll,” van der Merwe said.