Instead of building a boarding school for 179 deaf learners, Mpumalanga pays a private service provider R11 million a year to accommodate them.
The DA has written to Mpumalanga Education MEC, Bonakele Majuba, demanding to know why a private entity is paid R11 million a year to provide accommodation for these deaf learners instead of building them facilities for a boarding school which will permanently solve the problem and is a long overdue project.
In 2017, the department appointed Mathumbu Mdluli Family Trust to offer temporary boarding facilities to these learners. The department relocated these learners to the premises of the Bukhosibetfu Full-Service School in Nkomazi near Malelane from unsuitable facilities in Limpopo.
The DA is in possession of an internal memorandum dated 16 July 2021, where the director for inclusive education, Phililwe Mbatha, requested departmental head, Lucy Moyane, to facilitate a year to year contract until a new school is built. This is yet another deviation from procurement processes.
The construction of the school for the deaf in Mpumalanga halted in 2011 when the first announcement was made.
The DA also referred the matter to the Office of the Public Protector who confirmed an investigation is underway.
We further asked MEC Majuba to accompany the DA on an oversight visit to the facilities offered to the learners by the Trust.
The DA will continue to stand up and fight for these learners as they deserve fair access to basic education.