Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant says his department will be able to accommodate 138 children from Khayelitsha who must still find a school placement, but parents are not convinced.

About 400 children in the area were initially still looking to be placed in schools, but Grant later confirmed that the figure dropped to 138.

A meeting between officials, principals in Khayelitsha and the Khayelitsha development forum was held on Wednesday – Grant said it was determined there were 686 places available in primary schools and 120 in secondary schools. He later said that the onus is now upon the parents to have their children enrolled.

ANC councillor Andile Lili, who said his own child had not found a place, said parents were planning to take the matter to court. He said they wanted a mobile school, and claimed there were 500 children, not 138, without a school.

Concerned about the distance her children would have to travel to, Nosbulelo Ngesi, mother of Grade 2 pupil Nangamso Ngesi, said: “I cannot afford the transport to send my child to the schools that are far from my home. The only income I have is a grant.”

Source: Cape Argus