Ntuli slams KZN Education over flood-damaged schools

On Friday, Ntuli visited Thandukwazi Senior Primary School in KwaMashu, one of 188 schools in the province affected by this week's severe weather.

After arriving at Thandukwazi Senior Primary School, the premier learnt that some of the damage there was not new.

The principal revealed that a block of four classrooms had been partially exposed for more than three years after losing some of the roofing during the April 2022 floods.

 READ: Over 130 KZN schools damaged in recent storm

It suffered further damage on Tuesday as strong winds wreaked havoc.

As a result, teachers have been forced to squeeze more learners into the few classrooms that are covered.

However, Principal Baldwin Ngcongo said that while the classrooms on the lower level are covered, they leak when it rains.

Ntuli said he is frustrated by the situation.

"It is consequence management because I would wish to know who was supposed to ensure that this school should have been repaired. What, then, will happen thereafter to that particular person? Because if there is no consequence management in government, people will keep on behaving as if things are normal when challenges are facing our society, are facing our children"

KZN Department of Education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo admitted that a contractor was appointed for the repairs but was pulled off the job due to financial constraints.

He described the issue of flood-damaged schools as a moving target, saying the department is struggling to keep up with recurring damage.

"Today, you know, that so many schools are damaged, and as you try to fix them, a storm comes, and more schools are damaged. So, it is a consistent audit, consistent prioritisation, and reprioritisation because schools don't get affected in the same way. The key problem, as the premier indicated, has been the financial challenges."

Find us on social media

Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here

We are also on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)