Cosas is not a Chihuahua dog 02 October 2014 A letter to the Education MEC of the Western Cape Re: Students victimization in the Western Cape Cosas is not a Chihuahua Dog Dear MEC Ms Debbie Schäfer It is indeed with great pleasure that I pen to you on behalf of the thousands of students schooling in the Western Cape. I write to you on my capacity as the Provincial Chairperson of Cosas in the Western Cape. The letter serves to notify you that Cosas has been alerted of various cases of student victimization in schools across the province. Cosas is aware that your office has been notified of these cases but it’s dragging its feet in acting on them. Cosas has released couple of statements on media with the sole intention of bringing to your attention that we know of the said cases of cruelty on students in the province, and that we are carefully watching how you react to them. Regrettably, on all the choices you had at your disposal, you chose the wrong one of dragging your feet, and have not put any corrective measures in place. Up until this far there is no meaningful intervention from your office to protect and defend the victimized students. Our patience is running short, we are left with no choice but to write direct to you reminding you that Cosas is not a Chihuahua dog and that you don’t want to test our temperament. Your office is aware of the attack on a nine year old girl, Zintle Mguli a pupil from Vuselela Primary School in Site C, you have been notified of the abuse and derision on Xolelwa a Grade 12 pupil from Uxolo High School in Khayelitsha, and you definitely know of the harassment on a Grade 9 student from Belgravia high, who’s been constantly harassed by authorities at the school for the whole year, and later suspended while other students are busy with the national assessments. Your failure to act on the above cases not only undermines the existence of Cosas in the Province, but also signifies a dint of weak leadership in your office. We have noticed with concern that when dealing with issues of schools for those in the upper strata in society you act with great sense of urgency, and when it is schools in the previously disadvantaged areas you drag your feet. Decisive leadership from your office should not discriminate. This unbecoming conduct must come to an end. We are therefore throwing you a lifeline, explain to us, what has been your response to these cases, and what are the plans that you have in place to prevent these anomalies from perpetuating? Allow us to admonish you, we have the capacity, ability, and means to render every school in the Western Cape inoperative, you don’t want to try us. Students in the province are readily willing to come to your office to demand actions on the above mentioned cases. Your ignorance to this letter will be viewed as invitation for students’ might. Cosas is not a Chihuahua dog. In closing we call on you Madam Schafer to accelerate investigation into the case of Zintle Mguli, and suspend the class teacher with immediate effect. Moreover, reinstate the 14 year old boy from Belgravia High, and protect him from further victimisation. Furthermore the grade 12 female student from Uxolo high school must be put on a special programme to allow her to be ready to write final exams. We urge you to act with great sense of reverence and awe, provide leadership. We wish to hear back from you within the next 14 working days. We are guided by the undying spirit of OR Tambo who valued education so much, and thus we will not let these matters slip. Yours Truly Siphakamise Ngxowa 073 708 1975 Provincial Chair COSAS Western Cape
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 08:32:23 +0000
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