Uncategorized
By Lungile Ntimba
The Gauteng education department has suspended two inspectors from its infrastructure unit, following allegations of mishandling a school repair project at Noordgesig Secondary School in Soweto.
The suspensions come nearly a year after a fire broke out at the school in June 2024, causing extensive damage to several classrooms and the administrative building.
The department had allocated funds for urgent reconstruction, but there were suspicions that the work was not fully completed and that some of the committed upgrades had either been partially done or not carried out at all.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department had launched an internal investigation to determine the full facts surrounding the handling of the project.
“Subsequently, we will announce outcome of said investigation once it has been completed,” Mabona said in a statement on Wednesday.
Last week, the Democratic Alliance lodged a complaint with the Public Protector, accusing the department of misleading the public about the state of the school repairs.
The party alleged that despite claims that over R2 million had been spent, the school’s infrastructure remained in a poor and unsafe condition, posing a safety risk to both learners and teachers.
DA MPL Sergio Isa Dos Santos said in response to questions posed by the DA in the Gauteng legislature, that education MEC Matome Chiloane had said that all necessary repairs had been completed.
This included plumbing, building and electrical work, amounting to R2,065,517.14. The MEC also said fire blankets were delivered in September last year and that R504,951.78 was spent on electrical work and R319 862.30 was used for plumbing.
However, an oversight inspection by the party had “proven what Chiloane said in his replies as untrue”.
Classrooms that experienced minor damage had only been repainted, while the administration block remained untouched. Fire hose reels were dry and there were no extinguishers in sight. The administration toilets toilets remained fire-damaged despite reported plumbing work.
The DA said the department needed to be held accountable for every cent is spent on upgrades to schools to ensure value for money.
INSIDE EDUCATION