Special Hearings — Children's Hearings — 1997-05-22

MS WILLIAMS: The next area I am going to be looking at is education.  Education is considered a basic human right and a necessity for productivity.  Apartheid education fundamentally violated this right.  The provision of education in South Africa followed a pattern of racial inequality that reinforced the political economy of the apartheid order.  Further to create racial, class and ethnic inequalities.  In relation to this it was a known fact that education was not compulsory for black children. The policy of education for blacks was to direct the majority of black children towards the unskilled labour market.  Black pupils were not encouraged and nurtured in technical subjects such as mathematics and science.  Little or no emphasis was placed on black teacher training to adequately teach these subjects.  This system further deprived the majority of black children of tertiary education by introducing the quota system in white universities.
 In 1992 Molo Songololo hosted an exchange programme and these are some of the comments of the children.  Quote, "Ellerton's building is like a hospital.  It differs from our school.  There is a swimming pool, a park and an exercise hall.  Their library is very large.  They have everything our school does not have.".  That is by Nigel from Morgenson Primary in Hanover Park.  Quote, "my school is different from Government schools.  We do not have a pool and the school is made of zinc and it is surrounded by squatter camps.  The zinc on the roof is not completely done and we have very little space to study.  Ellerton school is fully equipped and clean on the outside.".  That is by Joyce from Siphika Community School in Nyanga East.  Quote, "Stormande, a community school, is very poor and dirty.  The school is overcrowded and the children stood outside to begin their assembly.  The children obviously do not learn much due to the shortage of textbooks and the children do not seem to care.  Education is important if you need a job and to be respected.".  This is by Gizelle from Ellerton Primary in Sea Point.  
 The effects that apartheid education had on children.  The statements made by the children mentioned previously clearly indicates inequalities within schools.  The fact that white children are academically, athletically and artistically more developed than black children is due to the lack of sporting and art facilities, adequate or no libraries, etc in black schools.  The use of indoctrination instilled the belief of white supremacy.  Apartheid education also created language barriers which further alienated children from each other.  Unemployment amongst black parents forced children to leave school and therefor lose out on education and job opportunities that goes along with it.  The lack of special education facilities for children with disabilities reduced such children to burdens of society.  
 Our recommendations are as follows:  The creation of adequate educational and recreational facilities in township and rural schools;  to provide a meal at these schools as children cannot learn on an empty stomach;  all teachers should be qualified and should treat children with patience, dignity and respect.  All teachers should be evaluated and monitored to ensure that they are protecting the rights of the child;  all children should have the right to participate in the evaluation and upgrading of curriculum that respects all the traditions, values and cultures of children in South Africa;  the State should provide multi-cultural teacher training;  more and improved centres should be set up for the special educational needs of children with disabilities and street children;  all creches, pre-schools, schools and institutions dealing with children should commit themselves to upholding the values of the new Constitution and the South African Children's Rights Charter.

MR CLAASSEN: The next section I would like to deal with is the apartheid debt.  Paying off apartheid's debt, which currently stands at some R311,0b, legitimates a system that grossly violated human rights.  It is the second highest expenditure of the 1997/98 budget.  This indicates that the Reconstruction and Development Programme suffers under the weight of interest payments on this debt.  It further means that the majority of children who had suffered and fought against apartheid would continue to live in a state of poverty and it would ultimately render their sacrifices futile.  It is our submission that, fundamentally, it is morally wrong for the present Government to be responsible for paying off this debt.
 Our recommendations in this regard are the following:  We strongly recommend that the debt be reversed and the money be spent on the reconstruction and development of the country;  we further recommend that the Truth Commission investigate the financing of apartheid.  Such an investigation would benefit the children in particular as this debt directly impacts on their future survival and development.  
 In conclusion we would like to say the following:  The idealogy and infrastructure promoted by the apartheid regime had a detrimental effect on the well-being of children.  Not only did it promote shattering prospects of racial and cultural inequalities, but also significantly strategised their alienation.  The articulation and creativity are, sorry.  The deeply psychological and emotional scars such as hatred, lack of self esteem, articulation and creativity are a direct consequence of a system that disempowered the majority of its people.  
 Molo Songololo foresees the formation of a Children's Council including children to pursue and explore ways in which to ensure children's survival, protection and development.  Finally, it is our contention that you cannot speak about reconciliation to someone when he or she does not have a decent place to live or even a morsel of food to eat.  Reconciliation is only in the vocabulary of those who can afford it.  It is non-existent to a person whose self-respect has been stripped away and poverty is a festering wound that consumes his soul.  Thank you very much.

MARY BURTON: Weaam Williams and Brian Claassen, it is my pleasure to thank you and to commend you for the submission that you have made to us today.  I remember well when Molo Songololo was started and many organisations have struggled to change their role, to bring their role up to date, in a way, in our new South Africa and it is very interesting to see how an organisation like this has moved beyond looking after the interests of children in a situation of resistance, to looking at our present day society.  So, you can certainly, both of you, as you say, be proud to be associated with it.
 Your submission to us is very well researched and we really appreciate and value that and you have made clear and detailed recommendations to us and we will take note of those and thank you very much for them.  Thank you.