There has been no teaching and learning for weeks at an overcrowded school in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria.
Parents shut down Sediba sa Thuto Primary School two weeks ago, saying their cries for more mobile classrooms and rebuilding of the school have fallen on deaf ears.
The school’s infrastructure is so poor that the 36 mobile classrooms have started to crumble and the toilets do not work, forcing children to relieve themselves on floors in two unused and dilapidated classrooms.
The school does not have enough furniture and some pupils use crates as chairs.
Parent Victor Chauke, 51, said their children are roaming the streets.
“Teachers are not coping with 70 pupils per class. The state of the school is dilapidated and not safe for our children.”
Another parent, Thulani Mabena, said the education department was making empty promises.
“Parents needed to take action. We want better education for our children” said Mabena.
He said containers are old and dilapidated and have been at the school for more than 10 years and need to be replaced.
“We signed a petition in January but the department never responded. The department does not take us seriously. Our children are behind with schoolwork.
“We are not happy, as the future of our children is at stake,” said Mabena.
However, not all parents agree with closing the school, which currently caters for 1.663 pupils.
Nanike Ramathe, 51, said she wanted parents to stop the shutdown as it was having an impact on the children’s education.
“My heart is so painful when I look at other kids going to school while my grandchildren are at home because the department is failing them. I’m pleading with parents to open the school so kids can go back to learn.”
DA shadow MEC for education Khume Ramulifho and other members of the party visited the school on Monday and pleaded with parents to reopen the school.
“This is unacceptable because we have kids sitting at home doing nothing. It shows we have weak district officials who are not doing their jobs,” said Ramulifho.
“We believe this is a violation of children’s basic rights because pupils are not accessing quality education. I promise to take the matter to the MEC (Panyaza Lesufi) today and to submit a written question to the department.”
Education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said they were aware of the closure.
“The department is in constant talks with the community to address their plight regarding the delivery of the required mobile units at the school and other affected schools,” he said.
School governing body chairperson Tebogo Selemela said they supported the closure of the school.
“We will shut the school until the department delivers the mobile classrooms they promised.”
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