Four years and approximately R32 million later, construction on David Livingstone Secondary School is still incomplete and the community has had enough.
A petition for the attention of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature was recently started by the Schauderville community, in an effort to get the school up and running again, as soon as possible.
According to DA shadow MEC for basic education, Yusuf Cassim, the school was earmarked for renovations due to its infrastructure not being up to standard.
The R74,1 million project started in June 2017 and was estimated to be completed by August 2019.
However, in July 2019, contractors, GVK Siya Zama, issued a relinquishment of site certificate, formally withdrawing from the project.
“This follows them being told by Public Works that there was no budget for the completion of the project. At that point, R32,2 million had already been paid over for the construction done until work came to a standstill,” Cassim explained.
Cassim said that when learners return to school next month, they will still be utilising the temporary structures constructed on the school premises as classrooms.
“Poor water flow management means that run-off water from the rain is pooling under some of the temporary structures and the floors are starting to lift. The toilet facilities are the worst, with the floors in a terrible condition. We believe that the temporary structures are a safety hazard and not conducive to teaching and learning,” he said.
The safety of learners is also one of the main concerns of residents and parents in the area.
Community leader, Elton Scholtz, emphasised how unsafe these temporary structures are. “The floors are caving in, the walls are very hot in the summer because there is polystyrene between the two boards of the walls that captures and retains heat.
“In the winter, it is extremely cold and that is just not acceptable. If you find only one point of ignition in one classroom, the whole school will burn down,” Scholtz explained.
“I feel very disappointed that the school still looks like this, at this stage. It has been two-and-a-half years since the contractors just packed up and left. I feel that our children are being denied education because of the condition of the school.
“Something needs to be done in order for the building to be finished before our children go back to school.”
He said that the petition was started to force the Department of Public Works to come to the table and address the community.
“They need to give us answers as to why the school has been left incomplete for so long. Residents, young and old, reacted very well to the petition and now almost everyone is asking for the school to be completed.”
Scholtz mentioned that, years ago, David Livingstone Secondary School was the best school in the northern areas of the metro, especially concerning sport, consumer studies and woodwork.
“That is why we are pushing to get the school back on track, so that those facilities can be made available to our children.” Former learner at the school and community leader, Branton Jonas, said that the right to education is one of the most basic rights.
“The fact that the school is in such a condition and no attention is being given for further development and to complete the project, is a violation of basic rights.”
Ward Councillor, Andy Jordan, confirmed that absolutely no work was taking place at the school.
“It is totally unacceptable for our kids to receive education in such conditions.
Our provincial and national representatives have brought this to the necessary departments but to no avail.”
According to answers by the MEC for Education, Fundile Gade, to questions tabled by Cassim regarding the completion of the construction, the project came to a halt due to procurement and budget constraints.
The online petition has more than 300 signatures. It can be found by clicking here.
