Malema: School closure ‘a Ramaphosa publicity stunt’
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has described President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to close public schools as “nothing but a publicity stunt”.
Malema made the comments during the party’s 7th birthday celebrations on Sunday.
“Today, Ramaphosa closes schools as a publicity stunt and based on temporary fear instead of science,” the leader of the red berets said during the virtual celebrations.
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“The consequences of this are that the privileged will continue to have an advantage in entering institutions of higher learning and the job market. The rich will continue to be educated and while the poor will succumb to substance abuse and neglect.”
The decision to close public schools for four weeks in August followed intense pressure from teachers unions.
Unions wanted the schools to close as the country entered its Covid-19 peak.
However, the decision will not affect independent schools.
Malema said the decision by Ramaphosa will only serve to further expose the country’s inequalities.
“Most painfully, the apartheid character of our schooling system is exposed as private schools, which have had the advantage of digital learning, will continue to not be affected.”
Grade 12 pupils will return to school after a one week break in August while pupils in grade 7s will return after a two week recess.