By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Khume Ramulifho, MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, has criticized shoddy workmanship at Nokuthula Special School LSEN, arguing it compromises learners’ safety. Ramulifho visited the infamous school with the DA ward 81 councillor, Joanne Horwitz
on 01 June 2023.
“Learners and teachers at Nokuthula LSEN school are exposed to a terrible environment due to the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) failure to fix the structural defects,” said Ramulifho.
Ramulifho said the GDE has failed to fix the structural defects at Nokuthula Special School LSEN since 2018.
He said the structure of the school had been made worse by the hailstorm that damaged 12 classrooms last year in December and the heavy rains in February that also damaged the retaining wall of the school.
“This is a safety risk for both learners and teachers. Today, the DA conducted an oversight inspection at the school and was disappointed to discover that the department has not yet fixed the school.
“The dormitories are still not occupied because they have not been issued with an occupational certificate.The environment in which the learners are taught is not conducive to learning and teaching.
“Furthermore, the hydrotherapy pool has never worked, which is much-needed equipment to assist the learners with special needs to ease the pain in their joints and help with exercises.
“Nokuthula Special School LSEN is one of many department projects that have been poorly built, yet R300 million has been spent on building the school.”
Ramulifho said the DA demands that the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane must urgently send the Geoscience engineers to determine the structural damages and ensure that the structural defects are fixed.
He said they will also submit written questions to MEC Chiloane to ascertain when will the structural defects be fixed at Nokuthula.
“We also want to know how much will be needed to fix the school and the timeliness,” concluded Ramulifho.
