The Democratic Alliance shadow MEC for Education in Gauteng, Khume Ramulifho, said he was disappointed and concerned about the safety of learners and staff members at Nokuthula School for learners with special educational needs (LSEN ) in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg.
This was after Ramulifho recently conducted an oversight visit at the school that was opened almost three years ago.
Ramulifho said he was surprised that a school that was built with more than R300 million three years ago had not yet received a permanent occupation certificate. In July last Ramulifho visited the school and found that the school had not been issued with a permanent occupation certificate and six months later the school continued to operate with a temporary occupation certificate.
“This situation is completely unacceptable, the temporary certificate states that the occupants are occupying the premises at their own risk. This situation is also frustrating the management of the school as it creates uncertainty about learners’ and teachers’ safety in utilising a school with no permanent occupation certificate.”
Ramulifho said the temporary certificate that the school has was only issued for certain parts of the facility that includes classrooms and the administration block and excluded the dormitories, kitchen and dining section of the facility.
“The school received a budget of R6 million in the last financial year to fix some defaults. This clearly indicates that there was a lack of compliance in terms of the construction of this school and this has nothing to do with politics.”
He said he will once again write to both the MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi and the MEC for Infrastructure Development, Tasneem Motara to ascertain when a permanent occupation certificate will be issued for the school.
A spokesperson for the provincial Department of Education, Steve Mabona said the department has submitted comprehensive and complete zoning and building application to the City of Johannesburg through its implementing agents, the Gauteng Department for Infrastructure Development and their external service providers.
“There has been no further requesting for information after we submitted our application and we are confident that the process of this particular matter is to be concluded shortly. As soon as this application is concluded in its entirety, the City of Johannesburg will be in a position to issue a permanent occupation certificate,” Mabona said.
Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/239028/occupational-safety-certificate-delays-the-opening-of-boarding-facilities-at-nokuthula-lsen-school/
