Damage to KZN schools set at millions

INFRASTRUCTURE damage caused during the civil unrest has added pressure to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, which already had a backlog of schools that had been damaged in the past by criminal elements and bad weather.

Yesterday, the department briefed the portfolio committee on basic education on the impact of damages on schools, caused by unrest.

Acting head of department Dr Barney Mthembu said before the physical verification, they had listed 137 schools, but after verification, there were 144 – 82 primary schools and 62 secondary/high schools.

The most affected secondary/high schools were in uMgungundlovu and Ugu districts, while the most affected primary schools were in King Cetshwayo, Ugu, uMgungundlovu, and Pinetown districts.

“We also found 130 schools need repairs below R500 000. The remaining 14 exceeded this amount,” said Mthembu.

The total cost of repairs is estimated at R100 362 000. uMgungundlovu R38.6m, Ilembe R35.2m, and Pinetown R14.9m, accounted for most of the damages.

The common aspects of school property affected were damaged roofs, damaged toilets, damage and theft of school doors, theft of copper and electricity pipes, theft of building material, stolen computers, damaged school fences, stolen and broken windows, largely burnt schools, and theft of school nutrition equipment and food items.

In the Pinetown district, Siphosethu Primary School lost three classrooms; in uMgungundlovu district, Sikhululiwe Secondary School lost eight classrooms; and in Ilembe district, Radha Roopsingh Primary School lost seven classrooms to fires.

“We procured a total of 18 mobile classrooms and they were delivered from Friday until Sunday, and by Monday the schools were ready to function with these makeshift structures,” said Mthembu. |