Alrapark Primary School learners in Nigel, Ekurhuleni, have missed three weeks of schooling due to community protests triggered by poor and unsafe conditions of the school. Despite the impact of this disruption to learning and teaching, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) MEC, Matome Chiloane, has been slow to respond, leaving learners stranded. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng condemns the inaction and demands urgent action to resolve the impasse.
During a recent oversight inspection, the DA discovered that Alrapark Primary School is over 130 years old and was declared unsafe in 2023. However, in 2024, instead of addressing urgent structural concerns, the department installed air conditioners in buildings already deemed hazardous. Asbestos structures remain on site, the mobile classrooms have electrical issues that cause the supply to trip when in use, and the environment is not conducive to learning.
Furthermore, the ratio of one educator to 50 children is unsustainable and unsafe. The situation is so dire that an assistant at the school was injured when a kitchen window frame collapsed, breaking her arm, while an educator suffered a broken leg climbing the steps to a mobile classroom.
Despite the dangers, the GDE’s response has been lethargic. Parents, left with no choice, forcibly closed the school on 11 August 2025, demanding urgent intervention. MEC Chiloane only announced yesterday that he will visit the school today, three weeks after aggrieved parents shut it down.
The MEC’s failure to act swiftly reveals the Premier Panyaza Lesufi-led administration’s disregard for learners’ rights. Not only is it arrogant, but it is also unresponsive to the plight of our learners who continue to be deprived of decent learning environments.
The DA demands that MEC Chiloane engage with parents and resolve this matter as soon as possible. Learners need to return to classrooms without further unnecessary delays, and the infrastructure challenges need to be properly addressed.
A DA-led Gauteng Department of Education would never abandon learners in this manner. We would prioritise safe and dignified learning spaces by eradicating asbestos schools, accelerating infrastructure upgrades, and ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety standards. When issues arise, we would actively engage parents to prevent a situation where learners miss three valuable weeks of education.