By Doreen Mokgolo
It’s been over a month since angry parents brought all teaching to a halt at Sizuzile Primary School in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni, over safety issues.
The school remains without a permanent safe environment for learners.
After years of waiting, the parents are demanding the Gauteng Department of Education and Department of Infrastructure in the province to commit to a date on when construction will start for a permanent structure.
The parents allege that when the school was constructed in 2011, the Department of Education said they would build a permanent structure within a period of four years. To date, the department has not fulfilled its promise.
The temporary classrooms have become unsafe; learners and staff have reported that their classrooms are infested with rats and they often get shocked by exposed electrical wires.
The roofs are also leaky and the rats have gnawed holes through the wooden floors.
One of the cooks at the school, who asked not to be named, confirmed that they often have to sieve the maize meal and rice because of water leaking into the maize from the rain or – even worse – rat urine.
“I fear for the children’s safety in the classrooms. One of the teachers tripped and injured herself because of the holes in the floors,” she said.
“I clean four classrooms a day and I often get shocked. I now know which parts of the rooms I mustn’t touch on rainy days.”
Last Wednesday, after their children had not been to class in over three weeks, the desperate parents gathered to protest at the school gates.
The protest erupted into chaos after the angry broke through the gates. They torched the school’s security office and smashed classroom’s windows.
The police broke up the protest. No arrests were made.
They have since prevented teachers and other staff members from accessing the school grounds.
Member of the SGB Adelaide Ndimande said the parents are tired of risking the health and safety of their children.
“We are not going to wait for a child to die in school before we act. The department made promises, even showed us the plans and promised that they would move the mobile classrooms to make way for construction,” she told Scrolla.Africa.
“Now we are told that there is no budget and to send it back to the department of education for answers,” she added.
Department of Infrastructure and Development Castro Ngobese said the project should have long started, but the matter was referred to the court by one of the service providers which was subsequently withdrawn, hence the prolonged delay.
“We are ready to appoint a service provider to start with the work, but in the midst of a court case and well-organised chaos in the area, it will be impossible to start with the project,” he said.
Picture above: Parents protesting outside Sizuzile Primary School
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
