Parents in Westbury have kept their children out of school with the threat of a strike against crime in the area looming.
On Thursday morning‚ no learners had pitched at both Westbury Secondary School and Westbury Primary School.
In a social media post this week‚ residents of Westbury and Newclare were called on to strike against crime and skip work. Parents were also advised not to send their children to school.
“There will be a stay-away in Westbury and Newclare tomorrow the 18th August 2016. There will be no school‚ and people will not be allowed to go to work. People from other areas‚ please avoid coming through Westbury and/ or Newclare.
“We will strike for all the crime in our community and for the Sophiatown Police Station to close down. Genoeg is Genoeg‚” the post‚ which was also circulated on WhatsApp said.
On Thursday morning‚ the streets of Westbury were quiet‚ with some seen walking in the direction of Main Road. Cars were stacked bumper-to-bumper on main routes surrounding the area.
But it was not business as usual for the area’s schools‚ which had received a call from an alleged organiser of the strike‚ warning of the planned action.
“The principals [of schools in the areas] sent out a general note. Basically the note states that we received notice of a possible strike action and that parents should decide if they want to send their children or not‚” Westbury Primary School principal Sheldon Maconi said.
“At this school not one learner turned up this morning.”
The school has more than 800 students. Staff had reported for duty‚ however.
The education department has been informed of the situation.
“This matter was communicated to the district and the director is quite aware. His stance is safety first‚” Maconi said.
At Westbury Secondary School‚ principal Been Robinson said that he was monitoring the situation closely.
The students at his school need classes to resume as they are preparing for exams.
“Our schools have been disrupted. We’re a week away from preliminary exams for Grade 12s and a month away from finals.
“Whoever these faceless organisers are‚ they have succeeded in disrupting our schools. Yesterday‚ the school was in turmoil [with the threat of the strike].
“I’m not happy with the situation‚” Robinson said‚ adding that what the organisers of the strike had done amounted to fear-mongering.
He said that the area had been abnormally quiet – “there is some fear in our community”.
The organisers of the strike are unknown and have not applied permission to hold the strike.
On Thursday morning‚ no protesters had gathered at the nearby Sophiatown Police Station.
On Wednesday night‚ two people were shot in Newclare. They are both stable‚ police said.
Much of the crime in the area is drug-related‚ Sophiatown police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Julia Claassen said. – TMG Digital
Schools deserted in Westbury after call for anti-crime protest
Parents in Westbury have kept their children out of school with the threat of a strike against crime in the area looming.
On Thursday morning‚ no learners had pitched at both Westbury Secondary School and Westbury Primary School.
In a social media post this week‚ residents of Westbury and Newclare were called on to strike against crime and skip work. Parents were also advised not to send their children to school.
“There will be a stay-away in Westbury and Newclare tomorrow the 18th August 2016. There will be no school‚ and people will not be allowed to go to work. People from other areas‚ please avoid coming through Westbury and/ or Newclare.
“We will strike for all the crime in our community and for the Sophiatown Police Station to close down. Genoeg is Genoeg‚” the post‚ which was also circulated on WhatsApp said.
On Thursday morning‚ the streets of Westbury were quiet‚ with some seen walking in the direction of Main Road. Cars were stacked bumper-to-bumper on main routes surrounding the area.
But it was not business as usual for the area’s schools‚ which had received a call from an alleged organiser of the strike‚ warning of the planned action.
“The principals [of schools in the areas] sent out a general note. Basically the note states that we received notice of a possible strike action and that parents should decide if they want to send their children or not‚” Westbury Primary School principal Sheldon Maconi said.
“At this school not one learner turned up this morning.”
The school has more than 800 students. Staff had reported for duty‚ however.
The education department has been informed of the situation.
“This matter was communicated to the district and the director is quite aware. His stance is safety first‚” Maconi said.
At Westbury Secondary School‚ principal Been Robinson said that he was monitoring the situation closely.
The students at his school need classes to resume as they are preparing for exams.
“Our schools have been disrupted. We’re a week away from preliminary exams for Grade 12s and a month away from finals.
“Whoever these faceless organisers are‚ they have succeeded in disrupting our schools. Yesterday‚ the school was in turmoil [with the threat of the strike].
“I’m not happy with the situation‚” Robinson said‚ adding that what the organisers of the strike had done amounted to fear-mongering.
He said that the area had been abnormally quiet – “there is some fear in our community”.
The organisers of the strike are unknown and have not applied permission to hold the strike.
On Thursday morning‚ no protesters had gathered at the nearby Sophiatown Police Station.
On Wednesday night‚ two people were shot in Newclare. They are both stable‚ police said.
Much of the crime in the area is drug-related‚ Sophiatown police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Julia Claassen said. – TMG Digital
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