Democratic Alliance statement by:
Sonja Boshoff, MP
Political Head: Mbombela and Nkomazi Constituencies
R60 mil Shongwe Boarding School crumbling after only 1 year
18 May 2015
Release: Immediate
One of the boarding schools opened in 2014 by the provincial Education Department to eradicate unsafe structures and multi-grading in schools is already showing signs of severe neglect.
During a recent oversight visit to Shongwe Boarding School in Nkomazi municipality, I was shocked to find that the school’s infrastructure was crumbling.
Our learners are being denied safe and dignified living conditions by a Department which does not care. The DA believes that our young people should be safe, secure and well equipped in schools.
In the hostels, I found that the taps were leaking, basins were blocked or broken and many of the toilets didn’t flush. In the dormitories cupboard doors were falling off, light switches are broken and live wires are hanging out of the ceiling. This is a terrible risk to our learners.
Multiple broken beds were placed in a pile outside the building and the ceiling was broken in some passages. The school’s sports field was also in a bad condition.
The school has a computer room where the windows are fixed with burglar bars but according to learners, the computers were stored in boxes in another room as there was nobody to teach them how to use the computers.
The school library had no books and the laboratory was not stocked.
According to the department’s annual performance plan for the 2013/14 financial year, the estimated project cost for Shongwe Boarding School was R60 million. The school accommodates 580 learners from eight neighbouring farm schools which were closed and merged to form the boarding school.
I have written to the Education MEC today, requesting that she/he urgently account to the Education Committee in the Legislature on the maintenance plan for this R60 million asset.
Media enquiries:
Sonja Boshoff, MP
Political Head: Mbombela and Nkomazi Constituencies
082 429 0280
Portia Adams
Communication Manager
082 319 6666
Dumisile Masuku
Media Officer
079 873 7590