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The Democratic Alliance has written to the chairperson of the
Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport, Arts & Culture requesting an
urgent briefing from the Northern Cape department of Education.

This follows revelations that the department, through the Independent
Development Trust, has been spending millions on the construction of
faulty ablution facilities at schools in the province. It appears that
the costs of the ablution facilities, as well as classrooms, have been
grossly over-inflated.

The Democratic Alliance believes that education is the key to
unlocking opportunities. All children must be given access to
excellent education in order to prosper. It is difficult for a learner
who does not have access to adequate sanitation to focus on studying.

At Ditshipeng Primary School outside Kuruman, R4.7 million was spent
on the construction of an ablution block. None of the fourteen toilets
in the block work. A similar design for an ablution block at
Mokgolokwe Senior Secondary School in Bathlaros cost R4.5 million.
Five classrooms at Omang Primary in Dithakong cost R4.8 million in
total. An administration block at Phakane Secondary School in
Mothibistad cost R6.1 million.

The department must provide a detailed breakdown of costs for each of
the projects. We want to know how faulty facilities will be repaired,
what the costs of the rectification will be and where the department
will source the funds from to correct their mistakes.

We also want to know if penalties for poor workmanship will be
recouped from the contractors. It is unacceptable that contractors get
rich from projects that need to be rectified or re-done.

We are concerned that the same over-inflated costs will apply to
upcoming infrastructure projects. The 2015/16 Norms and Standards
Report from the department shows that it plans to spend R523 000 on
each of the 214 classrooms it plans to build over the next seven
years. Yet the national department of Basic Education sets a maximum
threshold of R350 000 per classroom. We need to know why the
provincial department plans to spend R173 000 more per classroom than
is allowed. Even if the national department allows for deviations from
the maximum threshold, it is highly unlikely that every single
classroom to be built by the provincial department qualifies.

Every single cent in the education budget must be spent on improving
the quality of education in the province, not on enriching consultants
or contractors who deliver shoddy work.

Issued by DA