28 July 2015
Issued by the Office of the ANC EC Provincial Secretary
The African National Congress, Eastern Cape is disappointed to see violent clashes between protesters and police which turned into a war zone in Port Elizabeth’s North areas. Violence is not an option to raise and address any matters or concerns by any group as it has a potential to infringe the right of those that could be negatively affected by violence. It also has a potential to endanger innocent peoples lives and destroy property. We said it before, it cant be tolerated and it must be avoided at all costs. We condemn it and we call on people to refrain from engaging in violence when they need attention. There are channels in place to register matters that need attention of authorities.
We are happy that the MEC for education Cde Makhuphula has responded to attend to the matter and we believe the meeting between him with stakeholders today to resolve and calm the situation in the coloured community will help.
Educations is our priority and such it is our mission to continue to improve all efforts that seeks to better education for children’s future. Education is a societal matter and therefore it needs the attention of all those in the society. We urge parents to be directly involved in the running of schools as prescribed by the act that govern the running of schools. Parents must take it to their hands and equip themselves about challenges affecting education so they can engage in bringing workable solutions and advise government on matters that needs its attention. We need cooperation than violence.
As the ANC, we are aware of the matter affecting schools in the Northern Areas. We have confidence in Cde Makhuphula, the MEC that matters will be resolved.
The statement must be attributed to the ANC Provincial Secretary, Cde Oscar Lubabalo Mabuyane.
