‘Extortion racket interrupts learning, urgent intervention needed’

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the extortion racket targetting schools is interrupting learning and urgent intervention is needed.

Gwarube was speaking at Westview Special School in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape where she is on a learning and listening tour.

The Minister says the rise in extortion at schools is a serious concern and the department will soon be speaking to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu about interventions to safeguard schools as exams are approaching.

“It’s absolutely a crisis for us, we are exactly 49 days away from the start of matric exams and we cannot have a situation where our educators and learners are feeling unsafe in our communities. This is part of the reason why we’ve been elected to come to Nelson Mandela Bay, because we have a crisis here in certain neighbourhoods, here in Nelson Mandela Bay.”

“I’m also made aware that in the O.R Tambo District, there’s also a big problem around extortion. We want to make it clear to criminals that our schools are places of safety,” adds Gwarube. -Reporting by Sinethemba Witi 

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