As authorities continue to arrest perpetrators of burglaries, vandalism and arson at schools around South Africa, Shenilla Mohamed, Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa, said:
“The senseless attacks on and destruction of schools during the current lockdown period only seeks to further harm the right to education of thousands of pupils across the country who already face many barriers to accessing a decent quality education.
South Africa is a deeply unequal country and the destruction of schools means that thousands of school children who were already often learning in wholly inadequate facilities will see their life chances jeopardised further as vital resources will have to be diverted to fixing vandalised buildings.
Authorities must properly investigate to ensure that those who are behind the vandalism of schools face justice in fair trials. Destroying schools is destroying the future of a nation.”
BACKGROUND
The Department of Basic Education stated on Saturday, 18 April 2020, that 424 schools had been vandalised in South Africa since the lockdown.
Research by Amnesty International – Broken and Unequal: The State of Education in South Africa – released in February, revealed that 1,027 schools had no perimeter fencing and multiple schools had security volunteers rather than government-appointed security guards despite being burgled numerous times in a year.
The public are encouraged to take action here and call on the Department of Basic Education to realise the right to quality education for all.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mienke Steytler, Media and Digital Content Officer, Amnesty International South Africa: +27 (0)64 890 9224; mienke.steytler@amnesty.org.za
