Note to Editors: Please find a soundbite in English from DA MPL, Sergio Isa Dos Santos here.
The terrible state of roads leading to Phakamani Primary School Educational Centre in Kanana Park Extension 1, Johannesburg, is making it nearly impossible for learners to attend class, thereby undermining their right to access education. The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, to urgently engage the City of Joburg (COJ) to ensure these roads are repaired.
During a recent oversight inspection prompted by community complaints, the DA uncovered that the access roads leading to the school are neither tarred nor properly maintained with gravel. We learned that conditions are so poor that practically only a 4×4 vehicle can reach the school. When it rains, the school is forced to send learners home early before the roads become unusable.
See the video here.
Even more concerning is the fact that educators who drive to the school must contribute R100 each to be permitted to drive through a resident’s backyard, as this route provides a shorter and safer access to the school. This has been the case for years, highlighting the collapse of basic service delivery in the area.
It is disturbing that some learners are having difficulty travelling to school due to poor roads, despite Premier Panyaza Lesufi having openly stated that the province’s investments in roads and other infrastructure will go beyond the G20 summit preparations and will ultimately benefit residents in the long run. Clearly, this is not the case.
The DA will table questions to MEC Mamabolo to determine whether there are any plans from COJ to upgrade and tar the roads serving Kanana Park Extension 1 and the surrounding areas.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would never have allowed these roads to deteriorate to the point where they disrupt teaching and learning. We would work with the private sector to prioritise investment in infrastructure to repair these roads and others across the province, as we have successfully done in the DA-led Midvaal. Gauteng residents deserve nothing less, and yes, it can be done!