A mere four months after members of the Schauderville community voiced their concerns about the halted construction of David Livingstone Secondary School that had become a ‘safety hazard,’ a part of the school’s roof blew off following recent strong winds, damaging homes in the vicinity.
Ward councillor, Andy Jordan, said that he was on site on the night that the destruction took place.
“It was sad to see the damage of especially three homes, where even the ceilings were torn from the inside.
“It was raining and people had to place buckets inside their homes to catch the rain water,” he explained.
In January this year, members of the community started a petition for the attention of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, in an effort to get the school up and running again.
PE Express previously reported about the school that was earmarked for renovations due to infrastructure not being up to standard.
The R74,1 million rand project started in June 2017 and was estimated to be completed by August 2019.
“The project was completely cancelled, according to information received by Public Works through the social facilitator of the project. Our shadow MEC for basic education, Yusuf Cassim, put pressure on the issue by taking it to the Provincial Legislature,” Jordan added.
Since this incident occurred, the community has become even more determined than before to get the project completed in order for learners and staff to safely return to school and work and learn in conducive conditions.
Community group, the Concerned Community Members, Parents and Petitioners on David Livingstone School, directed correspondence to the Office of the Speaker, stressing the urgency of the petition and the demands by all 1 500 petitioners to provide feedback on the process.
According to a statement by the group, strong gale-force winds ripped the roof off the main school building of the school, which caused damage to the properties of residents in Kohlberg Street and further placed their safety and lives at risk.
“Further damage to the roof of the temporary structure of the school, where learning takes place, is cause for further concern,” the statement read.
“Previously, the community had written to the speaker of the Provincial Legislature on January 2, 2021, outlining its unhappiness with the general state of affairs of the project.
Official correspondence received by the community from the Office of the Speaker is dated February 22, 2021, and has reference.
“Because the community has not received any further written response on the concerns submitted, outlining the process for engagement with the community, the Legislature will be reminded of the its own rules, specifically rule 190 (3) and (4), as well as Rule 191, to publish the petition in the ATC for consideration and inclusion into the formal business of the House,” the statement read further.
“We further remind the speaker that the submission of a petition is an important tool to give legal expression of the rights of citizens to keep the executive accountable and to test the state of our democracy.
“We maintain that we will not compromise our children’s education, the health and safety of the community and will give effect to the specific provisions of the constitution to further our rights.”
Jordan added that the public works portfolio committee had indicated that it would organise an oversight visit to the school to assess the state of the project and the conditions of the temporary classrooms.
“The oversight will take place [this week],” Jordan concluded.
Cassim confirmed that an oversight visit planned by the provincial portfolio committee will take place today.
“What the Education Department is doing to the learners and parents by continuing to neglect budgeting appropriately to complete the school is callous,” he concluded.
