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This morning, the DA and community members of Randfontein protested outside the Randfontein Secondary School demanding that Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, inspect and visit the asbestos school as a matter of urgency.

This school was supposed to be demolished and rebuilt, however, contractors shoddily built walls around the exposed asbestos, leaving learners and teachers openly exposed to this hazardous material.

From the outside the school appears to be a brick and mortar structure, however inside the classrooms are still open to asbestos.

Learners and teachers are severely placed at risk to exposure due to poor workmanship by contractors.

The DA will table questions to MEC Lesufi, as to how much the project cost and who from his department conducted the completion inspection and signed off on the work.

We will ensure that MEC Lesufi and Gauteng Premier, David Makhura are held liable should anything happen to learners whilst they are exposed to this unsafe environment. The walls built around the asbestos are crumbling and it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Toekomsrus Primary School, nearby Randfontein Secondary School, is also an asbestos school and is one of the schools allegedly prioritized by the department, yet no work has commenced.

The community are incensed with the Gauteng Department of Education. Their calls for MEC Lesufi’s presence are valid and he must address the community’s concerns. Calls for the school to be demolished and rebuilt must not go unheard.

The situation at both schools compromises learner’s rights to a safe and dignified schooling environment.

The community demand that he visit the school within the next seven days to inspect and assess the situation. The DA will submit written questions to establish when exactly the department intends to eradicate all asbestos schools in the province.

Issued by DA