WeeklySA_AdminNEGLECT: A failure to provide safe and dignified hostel conditions for learners with disabilities is widespread in South Africa, the organisation says
By Ohene Yaw Ampofo-Anti
Blind SA approached the Pretoria and Pietermaritzburg high courts to appoint curators for two special schools it says are failing to adequately provide for learners with disabilities.
Blind SA alleges learners face poor infrastructure, inadequate learning materials, and incidents of violence and sexual abuse at Filadelfia Secondary and at Arthur Blaxall.
The schools said the issues were addressed and they denied the need for court intervention. Represented by the Equal Education Law Centre, Blind SA has now secured the appointment of a curator at Arthur Blaxall by agreement between the parties.
The Pretoria High Court and the Pietermaritzburg High Court recently heard two separate but related applications from Blind SA on the alleged infringement of the rights of learners with disabilities at two special schools, one in Gauteng and another in KwaZulu-Natal.
The two cases expose the unique challenges faced by learners with disabilities to access their constitutional right to basic education. Blind SA is represented in both cases by the Equal Education Law Centre.
Based on a report from the Human Rights Commission and various reports in the media, Blind SA says Filadelfia Secondary School in Soshanguve, a special school, is plagued with challenges that result in a chronic denial of the rights of learners.
As a special school, Filadelfia accommodates students who are deaf, visually impaired, blind or have physical disabilities. The school has some 300 students, all of whom reside in hostels.
According to Blind SA, the school infrastructure is in a state of disrepair. The hostel food is poor quality. The school lacks adequate and quality learning materials, equipment and devices to assist learners, such as braille devices. The teachers are poorly trained in the use of sign language and braille. There are allegations of sexual harassment of learners by teachers, outbreaks of violence between learners and teachers as well as between learners, and the misuse of alcohol and drugs.
BlindSA says despite repeated attempts to engage with the school, the School Governing Body and the Department of Education through correspondence and in-person meetings, nothing meaningful has been done to address the issues, prompting its court action. It wants the court to appoint an attorney from the Centre for Child Law as a curator ad litem.
A curator ad litem is an official appointed by a court to represent the interests of a person who does not have the capacity to represent themselves – in this case the learners of Filadelfia High School.
BlindSA contends that only a curator ad litem can address these issues in a transparent and impartial manner while providing learners an opportunity to be heard and to participate in the process. The curator ad litem would be tasked with doing an independent investigation into the grievances and reporting back to the court with recommendations.
In response, Filadelfia Secondary School argues that all the issues raised by Blind SA have since been addressed, that Blind SA’s reliance on media reports is inadmissible, because it is hearsay, and that the appointment of a curator ad litem is both unnecessary and uncalled for because the School Governing Body already enables the participation of parents, learners with disabilities and community representatives of people with disabilities. Also a curator ad litem should only be appointed in exceptional circumstances, they argue.
The hearing took place on 28 May. Judgment is reserved.
Arthur Blaxall School for the Blind
In a second application concerning a similar set of facts, Blind SA was in the high court in Pietermaritzburg on 2 June to argue that a curator ad litem be appointed at Arthur Blaxall School for the Blind.
Blind SA alleges that learners have been sexually assaulted or raped and despite this being reported, the school has not taken any meaningful action. It also says the school does not have sufficient mechanical braille writers or braille books, and the food is of poor quality. It says children over the age of 18 are excluded from hostels, even though it is challenging for a blind child to live on their own without assistance. In any event, the cost of accommodation outside of the hostel is not affordable for most parents.
Reports from the Human Rights Commission and SECTION27 brought to light the barriers that learners with disabilities face in enjoying their rights to equality and basic education. Blind SA says it convened a meeting with the Department of Basic Education, the Human Rights Commission, SECTION27 and Equal Education, but it has not resulted in the school addressing the grievances.
The school argued that a curator ad litem may only be appointed in exceptional circumstances and that those circumstances are not present in this case.
It said the incidents happened long ago and the necessary interventions have been made. The appointment of a curator ad litem will also interrupt the smooth operation of the school, it argued.
On 2 June, Blind SA and Arthur Blaxall reached a settlement which was made an order of court. In terms of that order, the Chairperson of the KwaZulu Natal Society of Advocates would be tasked with nominating a curator ad litem who would have the power to investigate Blind SA’s grievances, particularly concerns around “abuse, maltreatment, food, hostels, and school programmes”.
The curator ad litem would be obliged to provide a report to the court by 30 September 2025.
Blind SA and Equal Education Law Centre have welcomed the judgment.
These cases will have significant ramifications not only for learners at these two schools but for learners with disabilities across the country.- GroudUp
MIRROR Briefs
IFP KILLING : 2 HELD
The SA Police Services in Gauteng have apprehended two suspects in connection with the murder of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP Khethamabala Sithole.
Sithole was gunned down in Katlehong east of Johannesburg last week. Two suspects have appeared in court and the matter was postponed to next week for a bail application.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant‑Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that two men, aged 30 and 32, were arrested on Monday, 2 June. They face charges of murder and two counts of attempted murder linked to the ambush in which two other IFP members were injured. The IFP welcomed the arrests and appealed for a thorough investigation. “We are encouraged by the announcement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner in Gauteng regarding the breakthrough in this case,” said party spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa, while urging police to “leave no stone unturned”.
Other political formations, including the ANC, EFF, GOOD Party and Freedom Front Plus, condemned the killing. The ANC described Sithole as “a principled leader, a unifier and a true patriot, “reaffirming calls for swift justice. The EFF warned of the dangers political violence poses to democracy, while the GOOD Party reminded the public that “violence has no place in our democracy.” Gauteng IFP Chairperson, Bonginkosi Dlamini, described Sithole as a dedicated and selfless cadre. He added that Sithole was a humble, loyal and dedicated cadre of the IFP. Sithole joined the IFP in the early 80s and he came to Gauteng and also became a leader. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
NEW HIGH-TECH PLATES
Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has officially unveiled a new high-tech, tamper-proof provincial number plate system. The new intelligent number plate system is a secure, traceable, and smart solution, incorporating tamper-evident decals, forensic QR codes, and a fully digitised back-end portal. These technological enhancements are designed to combat vehicle theft, fraud, and cloning, while improving road safety and empowering traffic law enforcement across the province.
Speaking at the launch of the new plates at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg , the Premier said the new system was a major step forward in the fight against criminality in the province. “We are letting go of the old ways of fighting crime and introducing new ideas in this fight. With the help of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), we are now deploying a digital system that ensures we able to account for every vehicle on our public roads.
“Those who are using fraudulent or duplicate number plates will have no space or time to drive on our roads.” The province has launched a high-calibre “weapon” in the fight against criminality and restoring order. The system will be piloted using g-Fleet vehicles affixed with the technologically advanced new number plates as part of the six-month stress testing project, before the provincial rollout. – SAnews
EXTREME WEATHER FORECAST
A particularly intense cut-off low system, associated with severe and extreme winter weather, is expected to affect South Africa in the coming days. It will persist until at least the middle of next week over the eastern provinces, said the South African Weather Service (SAWS). The weather service indicated that this system will begin affecting the Western and Northern Cape early on Saturday morning, 7 June 2025.
“By Monday, 9 June 2025 and Tuesday, 10 June 2025, this extensive and severe winter weather system will have shifted further east over South Africa, affecting the central and eastern provinces.
“A significant and dramatic drop in daytime temperatures can be expected over all provinces, with the possible exception of Limpopo. Consequently, farmers of small stock are strongly advised to implement appropriate measures to prevent stock losses due to exposure to bitter cold and wind,” the SAWS said. The weather service has warned of snowfall over almost every province, with the exception of Limpopo. Some of these snowfalls will be disruptive, affecting traffic flow over mountain passes, for example, the N3 highway at Van Reenen’s pass on Monday, 9 June 2025 and Tuesday, 10 June 2025.
“Strong, damaging surface winds over large parts of the interior provinces from Sunday, leading to an elevated risk of wildfires, especially over the central and eastern interior, ahead of the cold change. – SAnews
VETERAN ACTOR HONOURED
The late actor Presley Chweneyagae has been described as a gentle giant, whose work will inspire a generation of storytellers. The 40-year-old award-winning actor died on May 27 from natural causes after experiencing sudden respiratory challenges. Actor Thato Molamu led the programme as MC during his memorial service at the State Theatre where Dr Sibongiseni Mkhize, CEO of the State Theatre, delivered a heartfelt welcome. His words blended reverence with pride for a man who called the theatre home.
A specially designed banner bearing Presley’s image stood as a centrepiece on stage. Screens throughout the venue played a montage of his life’s work. From his earliest roles to the unforgettable image of him clutching an Oscar beside the late South African icon, Nelson Mandela. Colleagues and friends shared stories that painted him as more than a performer. He was a cultural alchemist. Sdumo Mtshali, who starred alongside him in Number Number, described him as “a quiet fire, always burning, always shaping the story.”
Actress Terry Pheto said Chweneyagae was more than a colleague. He was part of her beginning. She also reminisced on the moments they worked together on the award-winning film, Tsotsi.
“We were just kids back then, young, hungry and full of dreams even we could not articulate. And yet there he was, carrying the weight of that story with quiet intensity that left everyone breathless.
Chweneyagae ‘s funeral service took place at the Akasia Community Hall in Pretoria on Saturday, June 7. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
