The list of schools in KwaZulu-Natal that were in a state of disrepair and some still using pit latrines was highlighted at the KZN Legislature on Tuesday.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) in KZN reported back to the committee of chairpersons of the KZN Legislature on its investigations undertaken on school infrastructure-related issues in the 2024/25 financial year.

Some of the problems at schools affected by the April 2022 floods are: 

• Bangibizo Primary School (Umtwalume, Umdoni District): The access road was eroded with no access for vehicles; roof leakages and soil erosion underneath the park home classroom were still not attended to.

• Port Shepstone High School (Ugu District): The pathway for learners was damaged by floods and was unsafe for use. There were also damages to the boarding establishment. 
• Isinamuva High School (St. Faith’s, Ugu): The school still has asbestos roofing. 
• Dubandlela High School (Highflats): The school was damaged. The walls were soaked with water and had mould build-up. The PSC stated that the old damaged structure was demolished, and a construction company was on site, busy with the construction of new classrooms, and fencing had been changed. There were park homes, which were being used as classrooms, while the construction was taking place. 

• Emzinhlanga Primary School (Ugu District): Roofs and ablution facilities were not fixed. 
• Imfume Primary School: Severe damages on the walls and ceilings, with visible holes in the roof. The school was amalgamated with another school, resulting in a lack of classrooms and no playground. 

• Gamalakhe Junior Primary (Port Shepstone): Roof leaks and damp walls. The asbestos roofing was damaged. The school resorted to combining learners into one class and refrained from using the damaged classes. 

The PSC Commissioner Yasmin Bacus urged the department to ensure prioritising the installation of boreholes in schools based in rural areas, prioritise the eradication of pit latrines, seek interventions of the SAPS, social workers, and other agencies to raise awareness on substance abuse at schools.

The PSC also conducted visits to 14 schools and seven district offices in KZN to monitor the progress made on the eradication of pit latrines in the 2025/26 financial year. 

Bacus highlighted that there was a court ruling on the Komape vs Minister of Education case, where the Department of Education (DoE) was instructed to eradicate pit latrines at schools as they impose danger on learners and teachers, and negatively impact teaching and learning.

Bacus recommended that schools should be supplied with a budget for cleaning/sterilising chemicals, toilet tissue, and hand-washing soap.

The PSC also suggested that schools should establish a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with municipalities to ensure water supply and water reticulation, which is a basic right for schools. 

“Contractors should not prioritise speed over quality and functionality, simply because inspections are mostly administrative in nature. The gap between compliance and actual service delivery is a known challenge in public-sector infrastructure monitoring,” she said.

“When the Department of Education partners with a body like the Development Bank of Southern Africa to eradicate pit latrines or upgrade sanitation infrastructure, the expectation is that these projects deliver safe, compliant facilities for learners,” Bacus stated. 

Bacus also touched on the findings of the PSC visit. “The majority of inspected schools do not have adequate classrooms to accommodate the number of learners, which results in non-adherence to the norms and standards,” she stated. 

The PSC also found: 

• Overcrowding. 
• The condition of the classrooms shows dilapidation, ranging from walls with mould, uneven floors, windows with no glass panes, and window frames falling, raising safety issues for learners. 
• Only the schools based in urban areas have flush ablution. 
• The ablutions in schools based in rural areas show serious concern as some lack privacy, etc. 
• The schools still lack a supply of water, but the majority have JoJo tanks used to collect rainwater.
• The schools lack recreation facilities and substitute teachers. 

“Meetings with district heads are now being facilitated so that the budget plans for districts can take into account the challenges at their schools,” she said. 

The PSC also found that the role of the district is minimal in that they don’t get involved in budget consultations except to submit lists of school maintenance plans to the province for approval. 

“The Development Bank of Southern Africa’s projects on flush toilets are not functional. Many are just standing unused due to water piping and other challenges. We find that the budget is centralised and controlled by the provincial office. There are many role players in the process of eradication of old pit latrines, yet it is very slow due to budgetary constraints,” Bacus said.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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