Two pupils are facing disciplinary action after a teargas canister went off in the Bellville Technical High School on Wednesday last week. Picture: Supplied.
Two pupils are facing disciplinary action after a teargas canister went off at the Bellville Technical High School on Wednesday last week, says the Western Cape Education Department.
“The school was evacuated in terms of safety procedures. No learner was harmed. The school is dealing with the incident in terms of its disciplinary procedures,” said the department's spokeswoman, Bronagh Hammond.
Bellville police have no record of the incident, according to police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg.
The EFF said in the statement that the incident raised "serious concerns" about the handling of "hazardous materials". It said its member of Parliament, Lencel Mashiadika Komane, and other party representatives, had tried to do "an oversight visit" at the school on Monday to assess health and safety regulations but had been denied access.
“The refusal to cooperate with our public representative, due to their EFF affiliation, reflects a disturbing trend of undermining democratic processes and projecting those who may be complicit in negligence,” the party said.
However, Ms Hammond said the department acknowledged the role of parliamentary oversight but the party had been in violation of the South African Schools Act and Western Cape Provincial School Education Act by coming wearing full political party regalia.
“We cannot accept blatant disregard of our rules and regulations," she said. “The school management did engage with the group, but, rightfully so, did not provide personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act.”