By Anita Dangazele
- The Seventh Day Adventist Primary School in New Brighton must now leave its building for the Bantu Church of Christ.
- The EFF stepped in on Wednesday to stop the eviction and make sure the children could still attend their classes.
More than 700 children at the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School in New Brighton face an uncertain future. They have been told to leave the building they have used since 2015.
The government gave the property to the Bantu Church of Christ after a bidding process. The church was already using part of the building.
School governing body chair Sisa Kona said the eviction notice arrived during the school holidays. He said it shocked parents and staff.
Eastern Cape Public Works MEC Siphokazi Mani Lusithi met with the school and the church on Sunday. She said both groups had been using the property without valid leases.
The department said the church was the only bidder that met all the rules. It also said the school applied for the wrong building and rejected another site they were offered.
Kona says this is wrong. He said the school applied for the correct building and provided proof.
“This year, they came back to us again telling us that they were standing firm in their decision,” he said.
The school and the church have been fighting over the space since 2015. Over the years, the church opened a salon and started skills development projects in the building. Teaching staff said the noise from machinery interrupted classes.
Kona said the school was also unhappy that the church housed ex-convicts who used the same bathrooms as the children.
The EFF stepped in on Wednesday to make sure classes continued on reopening day.
EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the party will write to the government to demand that the eviction is stopped.
Officials say talks will continue to find a solution.
Pictured above: SDA Primary School learners attend class as a dispute over their school building continues in New Brighton.
Image source: Supplied
