By OBAKENG MAJE
North West is set to appear before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on 24 March 2022. This comes after teaching and learning was affected in more than 40 schools across the province due to poor infrastructure.
One of the schools that were affected was Setshwarapelo Primary School in Mokgareng village near Taung. The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education. The Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West, Freddy Sonakile said they have visited the school as the committee and were appalled by its conditions.
“I submitted questions to the North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela, but there was no response. I then elevated the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
“In 2020, one of our MPLs, Gavin Edwards also did the same after conducting an oversight at the Promosa Secondary School in Potchefstroom. We followed the same route with Boitumelo Primary School in Bethel village near Mahikeng, which still has an asbestos building,” Sonakile said.
He further said, following their complaints to the SAHRC, the department was requested to provide answers, but they failed dismally. Sonakile added that he was happy when the SAHRC informed him that it had summoned the department to appear before it.
Meanwhile, the SAHRC Office Manager in the North West, Osmond Mngomezulu said they started investigations on school infrastructure after receiving complaints relating to six schools. Mngomezulu said, however, the scope was widened when they identified more schools during their assessment and monitoring.
“In particular, the complaints raise allegations concerning deteriorating buildings, cracked walls, cracked floor, broken window, falling ceilings, exposed electricity wires, shortage of classrooms, overcrowding in classrooms, asbestos roofing and structures, lack of access to sufficient water and basic sanitation.
“We therefore consolidated the complaints and handled the matter as a systemic violation of human rights. During the enquiry, the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) drew our attention to 40 more schools,” Mngomezulu said.
He said the Naptosa, which is a teachers’ labour union, presented additional schools including those in Madibeng that still use pit latrines. Mngomezulu said at this stage, they are still mapping out the additional schools, but they are looking at more than 60 schools in the province.
“The department has requested a postponement to 15 March 2022 to provide written submissions and is expected to appear before the SAHRC on 24 March 2022,” said Mngomezulu.
The departmental spokesperson, Elias Malindi refused to comment further on the matter and said they will only respond to the media after their interaction with the SAHRC. In 2019, R150 million infrastructure grant allocated to the department was returned to the national treasury’s coffer after it was unused.
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