Learners and teachers at Rus-Ter-Vaal Secondary School in Vereeniging
continue to be exposed to unhealthy hazardous conditions due to the Gauteng
Department of Education's failure to prioritise the eradication of asbestos
infrastructure across the province.
This was revealed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) after conducting an
oversight inspection at the school finding that the construction of the
newly built brick-and-mortar school was still incomplete.
The contractor has abandoned the project that was supposed to be completed
in February 2022. The DA says, this indicates that the Gauteng MEC for
Education, Panyaza Lesufi has failed in his commitment to eradicate all
asbestos schools in the province.
The 53-year-old school has 1132 learners and has been issued a
non-compliance certificate by the Department of Labour due to asbestos
infrastructure and overcrowding in classrooms
Further to the health risk, the asbestos infrastructure is on the edge of
collapsing.
There are over 70 learners in some classrooms which affects the rendering
of quality learning and teaching.
There has been no clear communication from the department or contractor as
to why the construction has been abandoned but instead, there is a blame
game going on. Each year since 2018 contractors have been switched and
changed.
This has resulted in the project incurring more costs which is a waste of
taxpayers' money.
The DA said, MEC Lesufi should account for delays in the completion of the
school and consequence management should also be implemented for all the
officials implicated in this project.
"We will also submit written questions to the MEC to ascertain when this
newly built school will be completed and when mobile classrooms will be
delivered to the school," said Khume Ramulifho MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC
for Education.
The DA reiterates its proposal for the Department of Education to take
control of all its infrastructure projects from the Department of
Infrastructure Development.
"This will ensure that all our schools are completed within the stipulated
timelines and on budget. This will also ensure that all major maintenance
of our schools is done timeously without inconveniencing learning and
teaching," he added.