Residents of Refilwe Extension 9 in Cullinan, Tshwane demand answers from Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi on his promise to have a school built in their community.
In an oral reply to my questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on 29 November last year, MEC Lesufi confirmed that the building of the school in the area will start in February 2017.
According to the contractor, no funds have been made available for the construction of the new school. The MEC and the Gauteng Education Department have not communicated with residents since promises have been made.
The DA has been approached by community leaders to seek advice on how they can keep MEC Lesufi accountable for his promise of a new school.
The population size in Refilwe Extension 9 has doubled as a result of new dwellings hence the need for a new primary school.
Overcrowding in Gauteng schools are a major challenge for the department. The prioritisation of building new schools across the province was a promise made by MEC Lesufi and Gauteng Premier David Makhura.
The DA will submit questions in the Provincial Legislature to MEC Lesufi in order to ascertain what exactly the status of the project is, the reasons for the delay, and when the school will be completed.