The Democratic Alliance (DA) has reported the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to the Public Protector for the misleading assertion that Noordgesig Secondary School in Soweto has been repaired following a fire incident that damaged the classrooms and the administration block in June last year. The school has not been fixed despite the department claiming to have spent over R2 million on repairs. The crucial infrastructure remains unusable, posing a safety risk to learners and teachers.
In response to questions posed by the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), the MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, stated that all repairs resulting from the fire that occurred on 27 June 2024 had been completed. This included plumbing, building, and electrical work, amounting to R2 065 517.14. The MEC also indicated that fire blankets were delivered in September 2024 and that R504 951.78 was spent on electrical work and R319 862.30 was used for plumbing.
However, a recent oversight inspection by the DA has proven what MEC Chiloane said in the replies as untrue. Classrooms that experienced minor damage have only been repainted, while the administration block remains untouched and shows signs of fire damage. Fire hose reels are dry, and there are no extinguishers in sight. Meanwhile, the entire block, which includes the administration block and classrooms, remains without power, and administration toilets remain fire-damaged despite reported plumbing work.
See video of the oversight inspection here.
Misleading the public and the legislature is a serious breach of trust, particularly given that over R2 million in public funds are at stake. Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that all school infrastructure repairs, upgrades, and maintenance are completed within the stipulated budget and timelines and to the required standard. We would prioritise the safety of learners and educators by ensuring that every school is equipped with functioning firefighting equipment and trained staff to respond to any fire incidents at school.
The DA will continue to hold the GDE accountable for every public cent spent on upgrading infrastructure in our schools to ensure value for money.