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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed that it will take over a year to remedy its shoddy workmanship at Nokuthula Special School.

Delays in remedying the bad workmanship have resulted in shortages of classrooms, a situation made worse by the twelve classrooms that were damaged by a hailstorm in December 2022. Heavy rains also damaged the retaining wall in February. This has led to special needs learners not benefitting from the hostel facility and the hydrotherapy pool.

This information was obtained in a written response by MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, to questions tabled by the DA at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

According to GDE, the Department of Infrastructure and Development (DID) will implement remedial works and has estimated that the boarding facility will be occupational by September 2024.

It seems the most disadvantaged learners are at the bottom of this department's priorities list. Nokuthula Special School has waited for five years to receive much-needed facilities to support learners with disabilities.

Chiloane has further acknowledged the following structural problems in the school:

• Internal walls at the swimming pool show signs of discolouration due to the incorrect application of the moisture barrier product,
• Superficial cracks on walls, boundary walls and concrete soffits,
• High humidity on internal and external walls caused moisture patches in the plastering due to the lack of sealant between external walls and the apron slab as well as the incorrect application of Damp Proof Course (DPC),
• Stagnating water within the dormitory walkways due to incorrect levels in the paving works,
• Silted apron slabs and stormwater channels due to incorrect levels of slabs and poor maintenance by the school,
• Leaking water pipes due to vandalism, and
• Leaking geyser water pipes from the dormitory ceilings due to lack of maintenance and pressure build-up because of infrastructure not being used.

GDE's relationship with DID has proven to be a failed partnership that compromises our education system's functionality. Nokuthula LSEN is one of the many failed projects in Gauteng.

Over R300 million was spent building this school. Now more funds will be injected into it due to the government's incompetency.

The DA believes that 15 months is far too long away for the government to fix this school. Chiloane must urgently prioritise completing the neglected project.

The DA will submit further questions to MEC Chilone to ascertain how much the department will spend fixing the structural defects at Nokuthula LSEN.

We will continue to pressure the department to prioritise proper construction and maintenance of Gauteng schools.

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