GQEBERHA – The New Brighton Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Primary School in Gqeberha has been issued with a 30-day notice to vacate the premises it currently occupies, as a dispute over the property continues to escalate.

The notice was issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on 1 April, following the conclusion of a procurement process to allocate the state-owned site.

The premises previously housed Lwandlekazi Public School until it closed its doors, after which the SDA private school took over the site in 2015.

According to the Department, the property has now been formally allocated to the Bantu Church of Christ following an open procurement process.

“A call for proposals was subsequently advertised for a number of closed provincial school buildings, including the former Lwandlekazi Public School,” the Department said.

“This open procurement process was undertaken to ensure fairness, transparency and equal opportunity for all interested parties.”

It added that the Bantu Church of Christ was the only bidder deemed compliant after evaluation.

“Following the evaluation process, it was determined that the Bantu Church of Christ was the only responsive and compliant bidder for this specific property,” the statement read.

The Department further stated that both the SDA school and the church had been occupying the premises without valid lease agreements.

“Both institutions occupying the premises did not have valid lease agreements at the time, rendering their occupation unlawful in terms of applicable legislation,” it said.

“It is important to clarify that the Seventh-day Adventist Private Primary School did not submit an expression of interest for the Lwandlekazi property.”

The Department said occupants were formally issued with a 30-day notice on 1 April to vacate the premises to allow the successful bidder to take occupation.

School disputes process

The decision has sparked strong reaction from the school community, which says it has longstanding ties to the site.

School governing chairperson, Sisa Kona-Mbilana, said the school, established in 1940, is celebrating 86 years of existence this year and has operated from the premises since 2015.

He disputed the Department’s version of events, particularly the claim that the school did not apply for the property.

“Why would we apply for a different premises when we are already here?” he said.

“We specifically identified this property in the list of unused state property. When the opportunity came, why would we apply for a different school?”

Kona-Mbilana further alleged inconsistencies in the Department’s response.

“They came back to us last year in September saying we applied for another school we don’t even know,” he said.

He claimed the alternative site offered to the school was a vandalised property in Zwide.

Kona-Mbilana also raised concerns about the church’s long-standing use of parts of the property.

He said the Bantu Church of Christ has been using four classrooms since 2015 after renovating vandalised facilities.

“Since 2015, they have not been paying any bills. They use the school during holidays and claim those four classrooms as theirs,” he said.

He added that while the school uses the classrooms during the academic term, the church occupies parts of the premises during holidays, including for parking.

Community calls for investigation

The dispute has drawn wider community concern, with calls for an investigation into the allocation process.

Community member Mike Bukani alleged irregularities in the process.

“We think the whole system was manipulated. It must be investigated and heads must roll,” he said.

He emphasised the school’s role in serving the broader community.

“Our involvement is to protect the education of children, especially disadvantaged children from this community,” he said.

Efforts to resolve the matter have so far been unsuccessful.

Eastern Cape MEC for Public Works, Infrastructure and Human Settlements, Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi, held a stakeholder engagement on 5 April alongside Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe.

However, Kona-Mbilana said the meeting did not proceed as planned.

“The community felt they cannot sit with the councillor because they believe the councillor sold the school to the church,” he said.

Church outlines its position

Bantu Church of Christ secretary-general Lucky Phechudi said the church’s relationship with the site predates 2015, when Lwandlekazi Public School still operated there.

“There were instances when it was not safe at the school, with break-ins and vandalism and equipment would be stored at the church,” he said.

The Church also has a premises, for services in the same street, diagonally across from the school.

He explained that during the rationalisation of schools around 2015, there was no formal agreement governing the school property, resulting in what he described as a “gentleman’s agreement” between parties.

Phechudi said tensions escalated over the years, including disputes over access, service payments and protest action.

“There were expectations around payment for water and electricity and periods where the church was denied access,” he said.

He confirmed that a lease agreement was signed with the Department in late March after lengthy negotiations.

“The Bantu Church of Christ was the only party that expressed serious interest in the property,” he said.

Phechudi added that government departments are aware of the impact on the school and are working on alternative arrangements.

“The Department of Education and Public Works have discussed alternative accommodation for the SDA school, which has about 138 learners,” he said.

“The Department is still prepared to assist in accommodating the school going forward.”

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