Johnathan Paoli
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has vehemently condemned political parties for entering Gauteng public schools during curriculum delivery time, as a strategy of campaigning.
This follows a campaign trail by a certain political party at some schools in Eldorado Park on Thursday during school hours.
“We strongly condemn the intrusion of political parties into Gauteng public schools. Education environments must remain apolitical to ensure a focused and unbiased learning atmosphere, curriculum delivery time, must always be respected, no one must disrupt schools,” said Chiloane.
A video showing EFF members in Johannesburg allegedly handing out food parcels to learners at La Rochelle Primary School in the south of the city was doing the rounds, has prompted Chiloane’s response.
DA MPL Sergio dos Santos said that this type of political messaging within schools, and in particular during school hours, was unacceptable as it undermined the primary purpose of educational institutions.
“While the DA acknowledges and comends any organisation contributing to the welfare of the learners through the provision of food packs, we firmly reject the exploitation of such initiatives for political campaigning during school hours,” dos Santos said.
The IEC has said the elections will be held somewhere from May and August to elect a new National Assembly, and the legislature in each province.
“These will be the seventh elections held under democracy since the end of apartheid in 1994. The new national council of provinces will be elected at the first sitting of each provincial legislature,” the IEC said.
Concerns have been raised over the possibility of cutting off late applications for registration, and opposition parties have called for the disclosure of a provisional date at the least.
The IEC is expected to hold its final voter registration drive on the weekend of February 3 and 4.
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