Equal Education (EE) will camp outside the Bhisho High Court when its court case for Minimum Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure against Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is heard on 20 November 2012. Fix Our Schools Camp will run from 17-21 November 2012 and will act as a site of peaceful protest and a venue for action. Over 150 people from all over South Africa will travel to attend the camp which will host debates, seminars, pickets and marches.
For the last two years EE has campaigned for Minister Motshekga to set Minimum Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure. Out of the 24 793 public schools in South Africa 93% have no libraries, 95% have no science laboratories, 2 402 schools have no water supply, 46% still use pit latrine toilets and 913 schools have no toilets facilities [http://tinyurl.com/cvrrc2u]. Section 5A of the South African Schools Act (SASA) gives Minister Motshekga alone the power to set Minimum Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure. These will ensure that all schools meet a minimum, but acceptable, standard of school infrastructure.
Over the last two years EE and its supporters have picketed, petitioned, protested, marched, fasted, slept outside Parliament and written countless letters to Minister Motshekga. After exhausting all other forms of democratic engagement, EE initiated legal action against Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga earlier this year.
Over 150 people from all over South Africa will converge on Bhisho for Fix Our Schools Camp. We will spend five days and four nights together. The camp will act as a venue for engagement, witness and peaceful protest. Teams will use is as a base for mobilising local communities including Bhisho, Tyutyu North, King William’s Town, Ginsberg and Dimbaza. It will also act as a venue for discussion and debate. Campers will read about the history of the area and Steve Biko’s life and legacy. Panel discussions and debates on education issues will be held. The camp will be open to local learners to join after schools finishes in the afternoon.
On Monday, 19 November 2012, campers and local communities will march 7km from the Steve Biko Garden of Remembrance through the centre of King William’s Town to the Bhisho High Court.
The court case will be heard on Tuesday, 20 November 2012. Campers will line the street leading to the court house in the morning as legal representatives for Minister Motshekga and Equal Education arrive. We will stay stationed outside the court house for the duration of the hearing.
All activities will be peaceful and within the rule of law.
Media tours will be arranged for journalists to visit local schools that have poor infrastructure and are involved in the court case.
For more information please contact:
Yoliswa Dwane (EE Chairperson) on 072 342 7747
Kate Wilkinson (Media Officer) on 082 326 5353
