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Nancefield Primary School learners in Soweto continue to be taught in old and dilapidated mobile classrooms as a contractor has abandoned the project of building their new brick-and-mortar school.

During the DA’s oversight inspection at Nancefield and Braamfischer Primary Schools, we discovered that both construction projects are still incomplete even though they were meant to be completed in 2019.

In Braamfischer Primary School, learners and teachers are now using brick-and-mortar classrooms. The school hall is still at the foundation phase, and the sporting facility is still incomplete. According to the contractor, the construction of the school will not be completed by October but will only be completed in March 2023.

This is unacceptable because of the safety and health risks involved, and these learners and teachers have waited far too long to move to the newly built school premises.

What is most disappointing and disgraceful of the Department of Infrastructure and Development is that, they still have not prioritised Nancefield Primary.

At the Nancefield Primary School construction site, we found building material being abandoned and left to gather dust. There has been no communication that stipulates whether the contract has been terminated or not.

For far too long, the DA has been demanding that the Gauteng Department of Education must prioritise the safety of our learners and replace all the mobile classrooms with brick-and-mortar structures.

The DA will be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to both MEC for Education and Infrastructure Development to ascertain why the Nancefield Primary School contractor has abandoned the unfinished project.

Unnecessary delays in construction at both Braamfischer and Nancified Primary schools are depriving learners of access to conducive learning and teaching environments.

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