DA welcomes Cefups Deregistration

DA welcomes Cefups De Registration

The DA welcomes the decision taken by the Department of Education to withdraw the registration of Cefups Academy with effect from 01 January 2015. In a statement released by the Department of Education, MEC Mhaule confirmed that the owner of Cefups Academy, Mr Mkhatshwa, has informed of the decision and has five days in which to appeal the decision as per the terms of Section 47(2) of the South African Schools Act. The school has plagued by incidents of corporal punishment which led to the unnecessary death of a pupil. As far back as 1999, the principal, Mr Mkhatshwa sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, as well as R1000 fine for assault.  In 2001 an estimated 150 students led a protest against the horrendous treatment they were receiving in the school. In 2009 the principal was in trouble again for the whipping of three girls and then again in 2012 three of the school boarding masters found guilty of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. Although the withdrawal of the registration does not force the school to close its doors, the DA believes that this step will encourage parents to re-evaluate their children’s enrolment at the school. The DA calls on the MEC to launch an investigation into the other schools owned by Mr Mkhatshwa, to ensure that these schools are not administering corporal punishment to pupils. The SAPS murder investigation is still underway and the DA trusts that the SAPS will do everything in their power to bring the perpetrator to justice to bring closure to the family who have lost their daughter.