School in standstill: Teachers boycott as parents block roads at the Cato Manor School.
Image: SCREENSHOT
Chaos erupted at uMkhumbane Secondary School in Durban as teachers boycotted classes in protest against the installation of surveillance cameras without consultation, leading to a standoff with parents.
Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi confirmed the standoff.
"We are aware of the matter; we are working on it. Indeed, educators are out," he told IOL.
He explained how the dispute centres on the installation of surveillance cameras inside classrooms, a move teachers claim happened without consultation.
"They are not at school because they were not consulted when the cameras were installed. From what we got is that when they came back from June holidays, boom, there were cameras in the classrooms and stuff like that."
He said educators alleged that concerns were raised with the principal, including claims that classroom teaching methods were being discussed. Officials are now attempting to mediate.
"So, we've been trying to engage both parties to have an amicable situation. We are very hopeful that in no time we will have everything going back to normal," he said.
But for now, the fallout has left the school paralysed.
"It is unfortunate that it has led to what it is now, where you have learners not being taught. You have educators not being at school."
He said the department aims to have the matter settled by Monday.
Security teams were on site to monitor the volatile situation. Doug Mellish from Patron Shield Security, who was among the first to arrive, described the scene.
"As we were driving down Spine Road, we had vehicles coming up in the same direction as vehicles were travelling down. So, we continued down.
"We found that the parents of the school, mostly moms and then some older gogos, were in the intersection blocking the intersection," he said.
He shared the same reason for the protest and the impact on the school.
"We approached them, talked to them, and they explained that the principal of the school had installed cameras in the classrooms and that the teachers weren't happy about this.
"And the teachers refused to come to school, and so the school was closed, and the kids aren't at school."
Despite the road closure, he said he did not see any violent altercations.