Dayspring: School’s out forever?

Despite instructions from the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) as well as Panyana Lesufi, the MEC for Education, that Dayspring Cambridge International Study Centre in Mulder Street must stop operating, the school’s doors remain open.

A high-ranking official at the GDE, who did not want to be named, told the record that should the school continue to operate, the department along with the police will close it down.

Who the casualties will be in this war remains to be seen – the residents, of whom 78 objected including councillor Carl Mann, or the school that has the full support of its parents.

Neighbour Deon Esterhuizen said he is at the end of his tether. One of the issues that grates him is the owner’s application to the Department of Development Planning submitted in November last year. He said the school has been operating since 2006 without the GDE’s consent. This was confirmed by the GDE last year. School principal Sue Parry stated in August last year that the school was “in the process of applying”.

Esterhuizen highlighted various points in the application he said are incorrect, such as the following:

• The document states the school will not take in more than 65 pupils and have no more than 10 teachers. According to Esterhuizen there are more than 100 pupils and 18 teachers.
• The application also states there will be ample parking yet parents dropping off and picking up pupils park in front of the Merlyn Manor flats opposite the school where a sign explicitly prohibits parking.
• According to the application “the amenity of the area shall not be disturbed” and “the use in itself is not noisy, does not generate high volumes of traffic and can easily integrate into residential environment”. This Esterhuizen, along with his other neighbours, contest.

Esterhuizen said the Emergency Management Services (EMS) did an informal inspection and found not even their small fire trucks could access the school because its driveway does not comply with the minimum width requirements.

Parry by her own account admitted to the record Lesufi instructed the GDE to close down the school based on consent to use and because the neighbours complain. The GDE told her not to operate in 2015.

She also said officials from the GDE visited the site but they gave her “no paperwork”.

James Bosch, a member of the body corporate of the flats across the road said the occupants of the flats have strong objections to the school. These include that  accidents are likely at the blind corner just before the school; there are no signs saying be careful of children; the high levels of traffic would cause more potholes; children are lazing around in the afternoons; and all the activity causes their dogs to “go crazy”.

Parry has indicated that she intends getting a restraining order against Esterhuizen; however he plans to get one against her.