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WENDY MOTHATA |
THE High Court in Johannesburg has on Monday ordered the Gauteng Education Department to fix unsafe electrical equipment and vandalised infrastructure at Geluksdal Secondary School in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni.
Judge Fridah Senyatsi said the department must urgently replace unsafe electrical equipment and security at the school.
The Department has been given 15 days to fix the issues at the school.
“This means that Gauteng Department is ordered to resolve infrastructure problems at Geluksdal Secondary School urgently, so that learners are not endangered because of unsafe electrical equipment,” said Senyatsi.
This move comes after Section27 public law centre declared Geluksdal Secondary School unsafe.
A matric learner who was electrocuted at Geluksdal Secondary died tragically in January 2017.
Section27 has been admitted as amicus curiae to fight for safe school infrastructure after the death of a learner from electrocution at school in Gauteng, “five years since the tragedy, the school is still unsafe.”
“Over five years since a matric learner tragically died at Geluksdal Secondary School in Gauteng after being electrocuted because electrical equipment was repeatedly stolen but not replaced by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), the infrastructure at the school remains a serious risk to learners’ rights and lives.”
“Between 2010 and 2017, Geluskdal suffered theft and vandalism of electrical safety equipment like circuit breakers, cables, distribution boxes and earth leakage at least three times. Despite being informed of the theft and vandalism, the district office and GDE did nothing.” Section27 said.
Judge Senyatsi said he is in agreement that a relief must be granted.
“I am in agreement 100% – there is a proper case in this case, the relief must be granted,” the Judge said.
Section27 said the judgment is a victory for learners at Geluksdal Secondary school.
-Inside Education