Around 400 learners from Grade R to Grade 3 at Bachana Mokwena Primary School have been staying home since July 22 due to safety concerns stemming from the school being built on a wetland. 

This is despite a promise by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, two weeks ago to provide mobile classrooms for foundation phase learners to go back to school.

The ongoing absence of learners from school was raised as a serious concern on Thursday during an oversight meeting by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) at the school, where they met with the principal and members of the school government body.

MKP MPL Brian Molefe led the visit, which aimed to inspect environmental and health risks at the school and assess the incomplete Ga-Rankuwa shopping complex project.

“We are here to hear from the leadership of the school about the nature of the problems and the extent to which it has affected school operations and put learners’ health at risk,” he said. 

Molefe said the intention is to take these concerns to the Gauteng legislature and national Parliament, engaging directly with relevant MECs and ministers to push for tangible solutions.

“We believe that the problem has been going on for quite some time, and it cannot be that problems persist. We must emphasise that this is not an electioneering exercise,” he said.

School principal Setswe Rapoo attributed the delay in delivering mobile classrooms to the contractor appointed by the department on July 24. 

He said learners can return to school if the contractor delivers the mobile classrooms by Friday, as previously promised. 

“The promise is that he will deliver two mobile classrooms today (Thursday), two on Friday, and two on Monday,” Rapoo said.

The school principal highlighted challenges in addressing the wetland issue, citing the unavailability of a site plan for the school. 

Additionally, he said the contractor who constructed the school is reportedly deceased, further complicating efforts to resolve the problem.

The MKP’s visit follows ActionSA’s recent criticism of the Gauteng government for alleged negligence and poor planning that led to the school’s construction on a wetland.

ActionSA’s John Moodey demanded concrete action, including disciplinary measures against those responsible and plans for relocation or rehabilitation.

Chiloane previously assured that the department would dispatch a hydro-geologist to assess the situation, cordon off the affected area, and deploy mobile classrooms.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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