Forcing of learners to join march condemned

Thursday, October 27, 2011

 Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has condemned incidents in Johannesburg in which learners where forced out of school to join today's ANC Youth League's march.

Learners across the country are currently in the middle of their final examinations.

According to media reports, some learners in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, were forced out of school by community members and made to join the ANC Youth League march taking place in Johannesburg's city centre and later in Pretoria.

Motshekga expressed shock at the reports, saying forcing learners to join a march during examinations was totally unacceptable.

"The National Department is currently working with the Gauteng Education Department to investigate the truth of this matter, and if found to be true, we will do everything possible to bring those responsible to book," warned Motshekga.

She urged communities in support of the march not to disrupt the ongoing end-of-year examinations, as it is a crucial time in the schooling lives of young people.

"We want them in class writing examinations, not in the streets."

Thousands of ANC Youth League supporters, who gathered in Johannesburg's city centre are heading to several institutions where they will hand over memoranda.

The marchers will move from Beyers Naude Square to the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton and then proceed to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The march is aimed at mobilising young people for "economic freedom" and to rally against unemployment.