26 November 2024
[Media Alert]EELC and parents of learners affected by the Usindiso fire in court today to protect the rights of children who were not only ruthlessly displaced but also robbed them of their right to a basic education
It has been over a year since the tragic fire that burnt down the Usindiso Building, which led to the displacement and relocation of many families to the Shalazile Camp and to other places around the Johannesburg City Centre. Sadly, children were forced to leave their schools which became inaccessible to them – many of these children remain out of school more than a year later. Despite knowing children were out of school, the Gauteng government has failed to create any meaningful plans to address this crisis.
Upon becoming aware of the matter, the Equal Education Law Centre engaged the Gauteng Government for the placement of the learners into schools. Despite the ongoing rights violations which were brought to their attention the Gauteng Government went radio silent. As a result, on 31 October 2024, the Equal Education Law Centre launched an urgent application against the Gauteng Government for its failure to exercise their constitutional and statutory obligations to place the learners.
The application will be brought in two parts. Part A, which will be heard today in the Johannesburg High Court, seeks to declare the Gauteng Department of Education’s failure to place learners into school following the fire unconstitutional and mandate the GDE to place the affected learners into schools with support and catch-up plans.
Part B will seek to develop the right to early learning as part of the right to a basic education it will also seek to challenge the Gauteng Admission Regulations and National Admission Policy to the extent that the policies fail to make provision for accessing education in times of emergencies such as the Usindiso fire that disrupted access to learning.
#SofundaSonke
[END]Contact: Yolisa Piliso -Junior Attorney- Equal Education Law Centre- 0739794359
