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Roodepoort school: Put pupils first, says DA

Johannesburg - Davidsonville residents need to ensure the education of pupils at the troubled Roodepoort Primary School always came first, the Democratic Alliance said on Friday. 

DA MPL Khume Ramulifho welcomed Gauteng Premier David Makhura's announcement that teaching at the school would resume on Wednesday.

"The DA further challenges the Davidsonville community and surrounding communities that, in taking ownership of Roodepoort Primary school, the interests of the learners come first," Ramulifho said in a statement.

Makhura said the decision to reopen the school was based on a task team recommendations appointed to find solutions for the school. A plan was in place to help pupils catch up on lost learning time. 

The school, which has been mired in allegations of corruption and racism, was temporarily closed about three weeks ago. It was also the site of several clashes between residents and the police.

Some pupils were moved to Lufhereng Primary School in Soweto, while others went to churches and nearby halls for classes. 

Parents and residents in the largely coloured area had claimed the appointment of the black principal and her two deputies was irregular. They rejected two reports, one clearing their appointment and another clearing them of financial mismanagement.

The mediation team's Molefe Tsele said while the appointments were the "trigger event" for the unrest, residents had decided the most important issue needing resolution was the school's reopening. 

The matter of the appointments would be dealt with in a mediation process later.

"While the first round of mediation maybe over, the DA believes the mediation team should continuously engage with all stakeholders in the months to come – thus preventing any further dissatisfaction to spiral out of control," Ramulifho said.

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