Johannesburg - The Gauteng Education Department (GDE) has committed to the eradication of asbestos structures at the Randfontein Secondary School, which was poorly peppered with a thin layer of bricks covering the asbestos underneath.
Last month, The Star reported that the department's commitment to rid the province of asbestos in schools by 2016 had not been fulfilled, almost seven years after the stipulated deadline.
Randfontein Secondary School is one of many that have yet to be properly renovated in order to rid the province of asbestos school structures.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which has been agitating for the eradication of asbestos at the school and many other schools in the province, has welcomed the commitment made by the education department, led by MEC Matome Chiloane, who, in a statement, said the rehabilitation of the school is currently being prioritised.
"The department has initiated planning processes to rehabilitate the school, and the project is currently at the concept stage with a budget allocation of over R112 175 165. The department anticipates concluding the planning and design processes in 2023, where after the project will be put on tender towards the appointment of a contractor that will undertake the work," Chiloane said.
"We are pleased that the department has initiated a rehabilitation process at a budget of R112 175 165 for Randfontein Secondary School following the DA’s oversight inspection at the school a month ago," said DA shadow MEC of education Khume Ramulifho.
Ramulifho said he is still concerned over a contractor who was appointed to eradicate the asbestos infrastructure but has made only 13% progress.
Ramulifho said the MEC also confirmed that the contractor will amongst some of the current crippling issues, which also include fixing broken toilets and replacing broken ceilings in the classrooms, as well as replacing the dilapidated staircase over and above replacing the asbestos infrastructure with a brick-and-mortar structure.
"Six years ago, shoddy renovations were done at the school; instead of replacing this school with a brick-and-mortar structure, the department contracted a service provider to construct a wall to cover the asbestos material. This wasteful exercise cost taxpayers R300 302,45 whilst the problem was not fixed," Ramulifho said.
The Star