Pretoria North parents demand urgent solutions as protests disrupt education at Laerskool Danie Malan Primary.
The new academic year in Pretoria North has been marred by parents protests, leaving hundreds of children unplaced in schools. Frustrated parents have taken to the streets, with Laerskool Danie Malan Primary temporarily closing its doors in response to the demonstrations.
The disruption began when parents, upset about their children being left without schools, protested outside Laerskool Danie Malan Primary. While classes resumed yesterday, tensions remain high as parents call for immediate action from the Gauteng Department of Education.
Unplaced Pupils and Growing Frustrations
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Pretoria North head of constituency Bronwynn Engelbrecht and DA shadow MEC for education Sergio Isa dos Santos visited the school to address concerns. Engelbrecht highlighted the uniqueness of the school, stating:
“This is the only bilingual school in Pretoria North still offering Afrikaans as a language.”
Despite nearby schools having capacity, some parents remain adamant about enrolling their children at Danie Malan, citing the school’s quality and proximity to their homes.
Prince Shabangu of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Tshwane region alleged racial bias in the school’s enrollment practices, accusing the institution of resisting transformation. “Enough is enough,” Shabangu said, adding that there were 187 children sitting at home who could be accommodated by repurposing existing storerooms into classrooms.
Classroom Shortages and Overcrowding
The school currently has 1,372 pupils with a teacher-pupil ratio of approximately 1:37. Although the Gauteng Department of Education proposed mobile classrooms to ease overcrowding, the school reportedly declined, citing concerns about losing sports facilities.
Ward councillor Quentin Meyer dismissed allegations of racism, emphasizing that the school is simply at full capacity. “The issue lies with the department’s poor planning, not the school,” he said.
Calls for Departmental Accountability
The DA and local leaders have urged the Gauteng Department of Education to prioritize long-term solutions, including building additional schools and planning ahead for rising enrollment numbers. Dos Santos pointed out that the department only approached the school for additional classrooms in November, two months after admissions had closed.
“The chaos is an annual occurrence,” Meyer remarked, stressing that parents should redirect their frustrations towards the education department rather than the school.
The Way Forward
The ongoing protests have brought to light critical issues of poor planning, racial tensions, and limited infrastructure in Pretoria North’s schooling system. As parents and education officials seek solutions, the need for collaboration and forward-thinking approaches becomes more urgent.
Also read: Outrage as Undocumented Children Enrolled in Schools Sparks National Debate
