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The safety of learners and teachers at Slovoville Primary School in Soweto is severely impacted due to the nearby dam water and wetlands overflowing into classrooms.

Schooling only commenced a week ago because parents feared for the safety of their children with concerns that they were at risk of drowning in the swamp.

We applaud the school for taking necessary measures to protect the learners as they have installed palisade fencing to prevent learners from playing near the dam and wetlands. However, this is a temporary measure that will not prevent the water from flooding into the school during the rainy season.

See images here, here and here.

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) should look for a permanent solution so that the school can have full access to its premises without contravening the environmental legislation. This includes the school sporting field, which cannot be used due to the wetlands.

Furthermore, the school has been without electricity and internet for the past seven months. The principal is forced to drive to a neighbouring school to print and send emails.

The DA demands that the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, must urgently intervene and ensure that something is done so that the wetland does not flow into the school, and the dam is secured so that it does not overflow into the classrooms to ensure the safety and wellbeing of learners.

We will further write to the office of the MEC to ascertain when will electricity and internet connectivity be restored so that the school can function properly.

Issued by Sergio dos Santos MPL - DA Gauteng’s Spokesperson for Education