This is according to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Tutu Faleni.

He says about 40 schools were damaged by the storm and he was informed that only half of those have been fixed.

This as premier Job Mokgoro officially revealed infrastructural upgrades to the tune of R9.7 million at the Reuben Monare Primary School in Tlhabane, Rustenburg, yesterday.

Faleni told OFM News that they welcome the gesture by the premier but remained concerned by the state of schools across the province. In some cases, the ceilings of schools are caving in.

“We have asked the MEC to do two things which have not been done yet and which threatens the quality of education, one of which is repairing all storm-damaged schools,” says Faleni.

Faleni further says in some instances pupils were forced to walk for long hours after the scholar transport service providers were not paid. This was the case for at least seven months, across most rural areas in the province.

He says schools’ management is in so much distress because they cannot fix the damage to schools because of a cash shortfall.

He adds that they have tried on several occasions to interact with the MEC for Education in the province, Sello Lehari, but their efforts have failed.

He also touched on the safety and security at schools across the province, following their oversight inspection at Rearabiloe Secondary School in Lehurutse near Zeerust. Teachers were allegedly attacked during the assembly by a group of pupils who were suspected to be under the influence of drugs.

He further said questions of safety and security was expected to be tabled in the Legislature on the specific interventions that the Department is implementing to protect teachers and students from what he called, an escalating culture of violence.

Faleni says they were informed that at least two teachers survived the attack informed them that no criminal charges were opened against the perpetrators.

The department is yet to comment.

OFM News