‘My child was placed in a school not yet built and next to a tavern,’ says angry parent

Parents in Tshwane, Gauteng, are seriously concerned after their children were placed at Railway Secondary School – an institution that currently exists only on paper and is located near a bar.

The proposed school site drew criticism from parents who visited the area, finding it situated next to a tavern and railway station.

This arrangement contradicts government regulations regarding school locations.

“So I go there as a parent to go and see where the school is going to be built. To my surprise when I get there, the school is not there.

“On the right-hand side, right now, is just a field… It’s a bush right now, as we speak.

“On the right-hand side of the bush is a tavern, opposite where the school is supposedly going to be built.

“And there is a railway station [on the other side],” one parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Citizen.

The parent cited government gazette regulations stating that schools should not be built near taverns, cemeteries, or railway stations.

“Where practicable, a school may not be located close to, or adjacent to a cemetery; a business centre; a railway station; a taxi rank; a sewage treatment plant; a public hostel; a busy road, unless adequate preventative measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the learners; or a bottle store or shebeen,” the gazette reads.

The Gauteng Education Department’s spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed to The Citizen that the department was aware of the gazette’s regulations but failed to explain what action would be taken to ensure it was not in violation.

He said: “According to municipal plans, the site is earmarked for educational purposes.”

On safety concerns, the department said the school was allocated patrollers and “community leaders have been roped in for support”.

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Accepted at a school they don’t know

One parent detailed applying to five schools, only to be unexpectedly assigned to Railway Secondary School, which wasn’t among their choices.

“I don’t even know where it is, right? I’ve never heard of it, I’ve never seen it. So I start googling where the school is and I can’t find anything on the school,” the parent explained.

The confusion has spread to social media, with parents seeking information about the institution.

“Thusang! Bare (Help! They are saying) my child transferred to Railway Secondary School in Pretoria but I can’t find such school when I google,” wrote Nthabiseng Maphresh on Facebook.

The department maintained that transfer offers are made to parents when other schools reach capacity and that affected parents were informed about the school’s status through emails.

However, parents argued that the communication has been inadequate and their concerns remain unaddressed.

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Where do the children go?

The department acknowledged that the school would only be operational in 2025, however, there was no mention of when construction would begin.

This raised questions about arrangements for the beginning of the academic year.

Parents expressed frustration over the lack of practical information regarding uniforms, logistics, and interim arrangements.

“Schools are supposed to start in January. What is going to happen in January? How do I plan as a parent financially? How do I plan? What is the uniform?” a parent asked.

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While not confirmed by the department, some have speculated the year will start in container classrooms.

“They did the same thing last year. There’s a school where they placed containers last year. And this school still doesn’t have teachers, so it’s an incomplete project,” a parent shared.

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