Ramaphosa: NCCC will consider schools' fate
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the closure of schools is now a matter that is being debated and discussed and will be given consideration by the National Coronavirus Command Council.
Ramaphosa said The World Health Organisation has said any countries facing a rise in infections, opening school is not wise.
"That is now a matter of debate in our country, Teachers Unions have come forward to say their own lived experiences that many teachers and learners are getting infected and have proposed that we should close schools," he said.
Ramaphosa interacted with communities across the nation through a virtual Presidential Imbizo on COVID-19 yesterday.
He says South Africa is not the only country that has had to open schools but that government is looking at coming up with a solution to the issues of schools opening.
"There has been a clear voice from the message coming from the unions and others. We are going to listen to them and engage.
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"Just now the Minister of Basic Education is involved with the teacher union organisations and they are discussing this matter and we are hoping that we will have a consensus-building type of outcome where we are able to come to a conclusion on what we should do," said Ramaphosa.
"I would say in our typical consultative way, we are going to come up with a way forward on the issue of schools."
Ramaphosa says talks have already begun.
"We are engaging them and we are listening to the concerns that they are raising.
"And it's all the key role players. It's parents, teacher unions, and student organisations. So we are listening to all that. We will have discussion with all of them."
