DA’s shadow MEC for Education in the province Khume Ramulifho has expressed his disappointment after the provincial Department of Education had allegedly failed to honour its commitment to do repair work at HA Jack Primary School in Waverley.
Ramulifho who was accompanied by the local ward councillor David Fisher, conducted an oversight visit to check the state of the school that is more than 70 years old and had been declared a monument by the Heritage Council a few years ago.
Ramulifho claimed that the MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi committed last year that his department would conduct repairs at the dilapidated school. Among other things, the roof is in disrepair and posed a threat to learners and teachers at the school.
“We were disappointed to discover that the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi has failed to honour his commitment to fix the collapsing school. The school has severe infrastructure challenges such as a leaking roof, dilapidated ceilings and cracks in the walls as well as loose floor tiles,” said Ramulifho.
“We are calling on MEC Lesufi to ensure that the school is fixed as a matter of urgency. The current situation is unacceptable because in November last the department forfeited R250 million [of the] budget meant for school infrastructure.”
The Department of Education had not responded to questions sent to the department’s spokesperson Steve Mabona by the time of going to press.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Gauteng Premier David Makhura and MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi handover bursaries
