South Africa
SAHRC slams decision to close public schools─── 08:44 Fri, 24 Jul 2020
![SAHRC slams decision to close public schools SAHRC slams decision to close public schools | News Article](https://oscar.ofm.co.za/img/fr_202072484715.jpg?w=600&h=300&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both)
The Human Rights Commission and the Democratic Alliance are slamming government's decision to close public schools.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that all public schools will close for up to a month, due to the rise in COVID-19 infections.
Ramaphosa made the announcement after consultations with various stakeholders.
The SAHRC says the decision is regrettable and unjustifiable. While, DA leader John Steenhuisen says Ramaphosa has bent the knee to teachers' unions, particularly the South African Democratic Teachers Union.
"This decision is not supported by the best available evidence, it is not supported by education experts, and it is not supported by the virus data," Steenhuisen said.
"The scientific evidence is that schools do not expose learners and staff to higher levels of risk than any other places."
The commission says there are grave consequences for pupils if they are not at school.
The SAHRC says pupils will now face an increased risk of child abuse and mental health breakdowns.
It also says there will be an increase in inequality since poorer schools will not be able to continue learning.
The DA is accusing Ramaphosa of being a spectator president.
The party says the president is merely taking instructions from whichever powerful interest group threatens him more.