The Western Cape Education Department says the SANTACO minibus taxi strike has prevented 456 020 learners and 17 449 staff members from getting to school today, with the Cape Town metro education districts being the worst affected.
This is a significant increase from the 287 000 learners and 9 500 staff members who were absent on Friday.
MEC David Maynier says it is a devastating loss of teaching and learning time that children simply cannot afford.
27 schools had to close today, and a number of other schools allowed learners to leave early if needed.
We are committed to keeping schools open as far as possible and where it is safe to do so, not just as places of learning, but as places of safety and nutritional support for children. Decisions to close selected schools will be taken on a case-by-case basis, and the school in question will inform parents.
Maynier says it is unfortunate that fake rumours have been doing the rounds that schools were being targeted and burned. This resulted in panic and confusion.
He says no school has reported such an incident. Maynier has joined the City in appealing to the public not to share fake news.
Adding to the uncertainty is irresponsible and puts our learners at risk.
We are aware of rumours circulating on social media that schools are being burned as part of the taxi strike. These are not true – no school has reported such an incident.
Please, don’t share fake news. Adding to the uncertainty is irresponsible and puts our learners at risk.
— David Maynier (@DavidMaynier) August 7, 2023
He has also urged school communities to report any harassment or intimidation of learners
being transported to school, so that the appropriate legal action can be taken.
RELATED: Thousands of children missed school due to taxi strike
This mornings’ continued strike was accompanied by incidents of public violence in several areas, while taxi drivers also blockaded the road leading to the airport.
Police are investigating two murders and three attempted murders amid the taxi violence.
Two people were shot dead in separate incidents today. In the first shooting, a motorist allegedly opened fire on people throwing stones at his vehicle on Airport Approach Road.
A second fatal shooting took place on Borchards Quarry Road near the N2.
