Edgemead protest upsets exams
2003-11-19 09:14
Cape Town - Protests at Edgemead High in Cape Town on Tuesday prevented matriculants from writing exams at the school.
The protest, which was organised by the ANC, came after an incident at the school on November 6, when a white pupil and her mother allegedly assaulted a black pupil on the school premises.
Noshipho Mkhize, 16, claimed she was hit, pulled by the hair and defecated on.
Pupils with placards demonstrated outside the school between 07:00 and 09:00. The placards read "Unite against racism".
Other grades were also prevented from writing exams, which would have started on Tuesday.
Gert Witbooi for Western Cape ANC said care was taken not to disrupt pupils "out of respect for the exams and because they are children".
The ANC held a meeting in Goodwood city hall on Monday to discuss the matter with concerned parents, teachers, high-profile party members and union members.
Meanwhile, police are investigating a charge of assault against Edgemead's principal and one of the teachers.
Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Paddy Atwell on Tuesday confirmed that the labour relations directorate was investigating a case of assault that allegedly took place at the school earlier this year.
A parent handed a sworn statement on the alleged assault on his son to police and the WCED.
According to the statement, the teacher grabbed the boy by the collar of his blazer because he talked during assembly. The boy said the principal, Dr Malcolm Venter, physically assaulted him.
Charges of assault with the intent to do serious bodily harm and crimen injuria have been lodged.
The WCED has been criticised for not doing enough to improve the situation.
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