Timeslive reports that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says practical steps need to be taken before English classes can be considered at the Hoërskool Overvaal in Vereeniging.  

Tensions flared this month at the school during protests against its Afrikaans language policy.  She encouraged those demanding the immediate enrollment of black and English speaking pupils to calmly discuss the matter.  Addressing a media briefing on Sunday, Motshekga said:  “Let’s not go and fight with ourselves on matters that we can resolve because it creates unnecessary tension and animosity.”  The row erupted after the school refused an instruction by the Gauteng education department to accept 55 English-speaking pupils.  The school said it had no capacity to admit the learners‚ and could not set up a parallel stream in the timeframe it was given by the department.  Its decision was backed by the North Gauteng High Court.  Motshekga emphasised the need to deal with the administrative issues raised by the court, such as the need to have English books and English teachers.

• Read this report by in full at Timeslive
• Read too, Hoërskool Overvaal about resources not Afrikaans, says Motshekga, at eNCA

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