PMB pupils back to school after R800k infrastructure repairs
More than a thousand learners in Pietermaritzburg will return to school in the new term with a proper roof over their heads.
Pupils at Eastwood Secondary, who've been learning in storm-damaged classrooms since the beginning of the year, will finally walk into newly renovated classrooms.
Twenty-three classrooms, four offices, an administrative office block, and a toilet were badly damaged in December, when large hailstones pierced holes in the school's asbestos roofs.
Heavy summer rains also led to the collapse of some ceilings - exposing mould-infested aerolite insulation and damaging desks and chairs.
The Department of Education covered the classrooms to prevent further damage, and provided the school with 16 mobile classrooms.
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Ward councillor Mzwandile Goge then turned to the Willowton Group for help.
"In December 2021, a bad storm hit the school severely damaging the asbestos cement roof, windows, and the gutters. When the school opened for the first term, they were challenged to operate.
"The Department of Education indicated they would fix the school before the end of the first term but by the middle of the second term they had not started."
Mohammed Moosa, who's with the food processing company, says for the first six months of the year, pupils at Eastwood had to attend school one day a week - because there weren't enough classrooms.
"The Willowton Group was able to assist with removing and replacing the old asbestos roofing with new roof sheets, so the children are not exposed to any health risks caused by asbestos.
"We also committed to refurbish classrooms which will now allow the school to return to full capacity on day-to-day basis. This total amount came to around R800 000."
