Schools damaged by December storms still not fixed

The DA calls upon the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi to fix all the schools that were damaged by the December storms.

The schools’ conditions aren’t conducive for learning and teaching. The district visited the schools but nothing was done. Failure to replace damaged classrooms has angered many parents who are deeply concerned with the safety of both their children and teachers.

Parents of learners at Mayibuye Primary School in Snake Park, Soweto had, as of Wednesday, shut down the school demanding that MEC Lesufi immediately fix six storm damaged classrooms.

These classrooms had most of their roofs blown away while parts remain hanging over the walls.

The ceiling has collapsed with water leaks on exposed power cables posing a serious electrical hazard.

Click here, here, here and here for photos of the classrooms.

These learners are now taught outside in the heat.

Parents have vowed that schooling will not resume until the damage has been repaired.

While we welcome the monthly opening of new state-of-the-art schools across the province, MEC Lesufi must get the basics right and ensure that all the existing schools which have infrastructure backlogs are addressed.

The DA has written to MEC Lesufi informing him about the dire state of this school and the conditions that the learners and teachers are exposed to.

We will continue to put pressure on MEC Lesufi to ensure that all the schools across the province that were damaged by the storm are fixed as a matter of urgency.