MPLs horrified at state of school the Gauteng government spend R200m on

07 November 2016 - 15:48 By Penwell Dlamini
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Desks are left burnt to ashes at Maligana Wilson Secondary School in Mashau on April 03, 2016 in Limpopo, South Africa. About 17 schools in the area were burnt down in the Malamulele-Vuwani area, allegedly by disgruntled residents protesting against demarcation. File photo.
Desks are left burnt to ashes at Maligana Wilson Secondary School in Mashau on April 03, 2016 in Limpopo, South Africa. About 17 schools in the area were burnt down in the Malamulele-Vuwani area, allegedly by disgruntled residents protesting against demarcation. File photo.
Image: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Sandile Ndlovu

The chairperson of the portfolio committee on education in Gauteng has expressed shock at the state of a school which cost government R200-million.

As part of its oversight‚ the Gauteng provincial legislature portfolio committee on Education‚ led by its chairperson Joe Mpisi‚ embarked on an unannounced visit to the Magalies Boarding School in Magaliesburg on Friday. What they found was vandalism of a scale that horrified even veteran committee members.

"The school is in a state of total disorder. I'm very shocked‚ disappointed and disgusted about the state of the school that government has invested R200 million in to ensure that our children receive better education." The principal told committee members that the school was being vandalised by pupils who are also gangsters. He said there were about 50 troublemakers who openly use drugs in the school.

They vandalise and steal school property to help finance their habit‚ he said. The committee found window frames had been ripped out‚ doors torn apart‚ paving removed‚ and toilets and basins smashed.

"We can't allow the situation to continue like this‚" a visibly angry Mpisi said. "I don't understand why there are so many problems in the school and the department was not aware. If there are people who are not willing to ensure effective learning in our schools‚ they should leave the system.

"We can't allow learners who are supposed to learn to instead vandalise schools and use drugs without any consequences or intervention from the stakeholders. We call upon the community to work together to stop the rot in the school‚" Mpisi said.

- TMG Digital

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