Police were called to Livingstone High School on Tuesday where angry pupils protested against their principal and teachers for allegedly cancelling their matric ball and camp due to unpaid school fees.
Angry Grade 12 pupils at the Claremont school say despite raising R52 000 last year towards the camp and ball, they were told that it was called off due to unpaid school fees.
The pupils made placards and picketed in front of the school on Tuesday morning, but were stopped by police who arrived shortly after they started.
An 18-year-old pupil, who asked not to be named, says: “The school has a tradition where when you are in Grade 11, you have to raise funds for the matric ball and camp.
“Last year we hosted a fashion show and cake sales with stuff that our parents gave us and we raised R52 000. Now they say there is no camp because of risks and the matric ball is off.
“So we came out with posters to show the principal and the school that we are not happy because they can’t just take our stuff away and punish us for what other matrics have done.
“We also want to know where is the money.”
Pupils say shortly after they started picketing, Claremont police arrived and warned them if they do not stop the “big guns” [Public Order Police] would be called in.
GIVE ANSWERS: Parent Abdurahman Khan outside the Claremont school
“They said they will bring the big guns for us, the ouens in the trucks and stuff for school children. We weren’t even violent, they can mos bring in that police for the gangsters,” one pupil said.
Parent, Abdurahman Khan, 60, says he was furious to hear the annual jol had been called off and says his 17-year-old daughter was very disappointed.
“The children raised the money on their own and I understand the school fees issue and I always make sure the fees are paid, but other parents have various reasons (for not paying),” he says.
“The camp is also an annual event that the children look forward to and the School Governing Body must give an explanation to the parents.”
WCED spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond, says the matric ball will still go ahead, but the matric camp has been cancelled.
“The school has cancelled the matric camp, and will instead opt for a team building or development activity instead. Parents were notified of the above in a letter from the school last week.
“The Grade 11 learners traditionally fundraise for the camp, matric ball and other items, such as the matric jersey. These funds will still be utilised to cover some of the costs of the ball, the team building and the jersey.”