The WCED also laid a criminal complaint with the police against the minibus taxi associations involved in the blockade.

Taxi associations have allegedly escalated the blockade and are threatening to offload learners from any transport that associates do not operate.

Taxi associations are allegedly threatening and intimidating scholar transport drivers in an attempt to muscle in on contracts from the WCED.

Burglary and vandalism increased at schools in the Western Cape during the December holidays despite the department subsidising holiday security.

The WCED said 70 schools in the province achieved a 100% pass rate. A fraction of those schools also managed a 100% bachelor’s pass rate.

The taxi strike in the Western Cape affected millions of commuters and kept 11% of learners in the province away from school.

Western Cape schools paid over R36 million in bank charges last year. The education department is looking at ways to reduce the cost.

The Public Sector Association previously said the education sector may be affected by Thursday’s protest action across the country.

Western Cape schools will be informed of their teacher allocation for the 2023 academic year soon, said the province’s education MEC, David Maynier.

A Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson said the schools were in Phillipi, Macassar, Strand, Khayelitsha and Langa.

‘Depriving our children of the opportunity to attend school full-time in the current circumstances is no longer justified,’ said Debbie Schafer.

Seven people associated with alleged tender fraud at the Western Cape Sports School were arrested by the Hawks.

The ACDP marched to parliament to hand over a memo against a draft policy by the WCED that seeks to create a more inclusive environment.