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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, fire the incompetent MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane.

MEC Chiloane is incapable of leading this department. He is dodging his responsibilities while things are falling apart.

Learners at Wendywood High have not been going to school because the City of Johannesburg has cut the water supply. These learners are being denied access to quality basic education.

This is unacceptable, as these learners will compete with other learners in other schools at the end of the year despite missing days of schooling.

The DA has written to the department seeking its intervention; however, there is no urgency in resolving this matter. The school has had no water since May, and the MEC has done nothing to resolve the matter.

Many school infrastructure projects are either on hold or have been abandoned. This means that learners who applied online will not be placed before the end of the year, as there are not enough schools to accommodate them.

In addition, more than 80 Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) employees are pocketing salaries for doing nothing. Furthermore, GCRA has failed to pay monthly stipends to many youths on internships with several TVET colleges across the province, yet the MEC has failed to intervene.

Since the beginning of the 2023 academic year, the department has recorded many school disruptions because of a lack of leadership. This has had a negative impact on quality teaching and learning.

MEC Chiloane has no plan to lead this department, and his priorities are not clear. He is not responsive or accessible.

The DA demands that Premier Panyaza fire MEC Chiloane before he completely collapses the department. The department needs an energetic leader with a vision to improve the quality of teaching and learning. It needs a dedicated MEC to provide leadership and support to the department.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education