“However, to suddenly see a group of white adults organising black children with half-truths can only be opportunistic, patronising and simply dishonest to say the least.”
These are ‘racists’ comments which got Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga in hot water in Cape Town, with the advocacy group Equal Education.
Equal Education has been campaigning for minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure for the past few years.
The comments, included in a statement from the department and sent to the media, were also tweeted by the Department of Basic Education.
Equal Education has called on Motshekga to distance herself “from the racist statement issued in her name” while the DA said it would request the Public Service Commission to investigate the “racist rant”.
According to Independent Online, the group, Motshekga signed a settlement agreement in November in which she committed to consult fully and publish binding school infrastructure regulations by May 15.
One of the tweets in response to the statement was from Vusi Pikoli (former National Prosecuting Authority boss), who said: “The late Arthur Chaskalson used to chair the EE (Equal Education) Law Centre Trust and I was a trustee. What does it say about us? Somebody must explain!”
Equal Education chairwoman Yoliswa Dwane hit back saying the statement was a serious attack on non-racism, the constitution and the legacy of Nelson Mandela.
“That it appears on a government letterhead is shocking.”
Yesterday, Motshekga’s spokeswoman, Hope Mokgatlhe, said the part of the statement which was now being labelled as racist had “no racist intentions”.
“It is but a necessary reminder of the struggle of African children to get a decent education, over many years, which the current government is addressing,” she said.
