Police stop IFP youth at KZN school

2012-03-13 21:11

Durban - Police prevented IFP youth leaders from entering a northern KwaZulu-Natal school on Tuesday, the party said.

"It is shameful that in post-democratic South Africa, our government can still deploy the police to stop opposition parties from playing an active role as a constructive opposition," Inkatha Freedom Party youth leader Mkhuleko Hlengwa said.

The party's youth brigade was scheduled to hold a motivational talk at Siqiwini High School, in Mtubatuba, about teachers having inappropriate relationships with students. He said there was a strong police presence at the school and the gates were locked.

The province's Education MEC Senzo Mchunu said political parties were not allowed to speak to pupils at the school.

"It's not part of policy. If the IFP has concerns about what's going on at schools they need to contact us directly."

Mchunu said the department was investigating allegations that a teacher impregnated a pupil at the school.

"This is a serious matter and it will be subjected to the disciplinary process."

Mchunu said the education department had started a campaign to deal with the high number of pregnancies in schools.

- SAPA