Address by the Deputy Minister of Education - Mr Mosibudi Mangena
Venue: The official opening of the Haroon Patel Hall at Alpha Primary School
Date: 13 September 2002
Time: 18:00
Director of Ceremonies, Principal, Chairperson and Members of the School Governing Body, Educators, Learners, Members of the family of the late Comrade Haroon Patel, Distinguished Guests, Comrades and Friends
Alpha Primary School is one of the oldest schools in Lenasia. Apart from being the first school in this area, it has a proud and great historical legacy, I understand that the school moved from Kliptown to Lenasia in 1957. During its 45 years of existence thousands of learners have passed through its portals and in the process creating a very worthy and noble tradition; the tradition that we hope others will build upon and enhance.
It is indeed my pleasant privilege to join you all in celebrating a very important milestone in the school’s history. Today this community is honouring the memory of Cde. Haroon Patel who, among some of his brave and noble activities, was also one of the organisers of the first student demonstrations in Lenasia against the murder of Steve Biko in detention. Honouring the memory of Comrade Haroon Patel through this monument during the Steve Biko Week is a fitting tribute to a man who sacrificed his youth, wife and children for a course that was for the good of his country. We salute and honour his memory.
Our past in this country cannot be forgotten. Fund allocations by the racist government for the services of those it termed ‘non-whites’ were limited, This practice, which lasted many years, has resulted in the current underdevelopment of the school infrastructure in the black areas. The paucity of resources collective action on the part of parents and the community to supplement what the government provided.
From the beginning, a school in a traditionally privileged area was built to accommodate an administration block, a hall, science and computer laboratories, a library, specialised sporting facilities, etc. On the contrary, schools for Black communities provided for basic classrooms only and no specialist rooms or amenities. To this day we still find schools with no water and toilets. This however, has not acted as an impediment; in most cases it actually spurred parents and communities to raise funds among themselves, often under very difficult circumstances.
The opening of this hall today symbolises that collective will of the people determined to succeed despite the odds facing them. The success of projects such as this one make us proud because they require solid and dedicated partnerships for success. The achievement of the school therefore, in bringing to fruition its cherished dream of building a hall despite negligible contributions from elsewhere, crowns the valiant efforts of the learners, parents, teachers and the School Governing Body. We would like to commend their determination and dedication and congratulate them on the work well done.
While we celebrate, it is important for us to pause and reflect on the pioneering efforts of all those who worked tirelessly to establish and nurture the growth of this school. In this respect the names of the late Mr W M Moonsamy, the first principal, and all the successive principals including Mr Rashid Seedat come to mind. We note with appreciation the dedicated services rendered by the various principals and members of staff who have upheld the torch of learning for the thousands of learners who have passed through their hands. Forty - five years is a long time. All those who have passed through have contributed towards building the ethos, spirit and practices that the school and community cherish today. These traditions are essential for the growth of the intellectual and moral strength of your community.
The history of Alpha Primary School truly symbolises the perseverance and vision of a community that is determined to provide their children with the best possible education they could afford. It is schools like Alpha Primary that attest to the quiet heroism of our country’s ordinary men and women who are prepared to make great sacrifices towards building an educational system that is second to none. The cumulative results of their sacrifices can only be measured in the ultimate success of their children.
This school hall will open new avenues hitherto inaccessible to the learners. School and other functions such as this one can now take place without unnecessary interruptions of other school programmes. The theatrical talents of our learners can now be paraded on the stage for all to see. The hall also provides a platform to hone the expressive, oratory and rhetorical skills of the learners. Speech contests, debates, exhibitions and displays that were confined to smaller classes can now be easily showcased by the school. To cap it all the school will also be able to derive some revenue by hiring this hall out to the community.
The erection of this school hall also lends focus to two very important priorities of the Ministry. These priorities constitute the basic building blocks for enabling the development of a fully functioning education and training system that will contribute to the health and prosperity of our nation. They include putting an end to the conditions of physical degradation of our schools and making our schools centres of community life. The school has already responded to the first priority by maintaining the school over the years and now building the much-needed hall that has enhanced the value of the existing school buildings. The second priority relates to opening the use of this hall to the responsible use by the community of this and surrounding areas.
One cannot doubt that Alpha Primary School is an active part of this community. Dedicating this hall to the memory of Haroon Patel is not only the best way of immortalising a truly great freedom fighter; it is also a recognition of the support that his family had given towards the struggle for liberation. Executing his duties under AZAPO came at a great sacrifice to himself and to his family. In his short life he also contributed towards galvanising international support that facilitated our final transition to democracy. To members of his family we express our heartfelt gratitude for the tremendous sacrifices you have made. May the knowledge that Haroon’s contributions-have been captured in the annals of the history of this school and community be a source of comfort to you. As AZAPO we will always remain indebted to him and his family.
As Martin Luther King puts it, Haroon’s actions and optimism have also ensured that “the sweltering summer of the ‘masses’ discontent would not pass until an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality” has been realised. Sadly, however, Haroon’s untimely and premature demise has denied him the opportunity of experiencing the refreshing transition from oppression and racial injustice to democracy.
As a fitting tribute to Haroon Patel, may this hall continue to symbolise the triumph of our liberation struggle, the triumph of this school and community and the triumph of the resilience of our people.
May the school continue to build and shape the young hearts and minds for the future prosperity of us all.
I thank you.