DA raises alarm over school readiness in Ekurhuleni ahead of 2026 academic year

The DA has raised serious concerns about school readiness in Ward 13, Ekurhuleni, following an oversight visit to three schools in Thembisa South and Birch Acres on January 12.

The oversight was conducted by Clr Hector Bogopane, Gauteng MPL Refiloe Nt’sekhe, and Clr Bongani Nkosi, amid ongoing concerns about deteriorating learning conditions at several schools in the area.

According to Nt’sekhe, the situation at Birch Acres Secondary School No 2, a container-based school established in 2025, is particularly alarming.

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“We found learners attending classes without electricity. They come to school every day with limited water, which runs out during the morning.

“Classrooms have no tables or chairs for newly admitted learners, while teachers are forced to perform both teaching and administrative duties due to the absence of support staff,” said Nt’sekhe.

She added that although the school was designed to accommodate up to 500 learners, it currently serves approximately 110 Grade Eight learners under conditions she described as undignified and unacceptable.

At Birch Acres Primary School No 1, construction began in 2018. The contractor abandoned the project when it was about 80% complete.

Once completed, the school was expected to provide approximately 50 classrooms.

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“The site has since been vandalised, with the school server stolen, windows and toilets removed, and no security guarding the premises.

“Ongoing vandalism has resulted in aluminium windows and other infrastructure being stripped from the building,” Nt’sekhe said.

The matter has since been raised with Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane, who indicated that a plan is in place to rebuild and complete the school.

The abandonment of the project was attributed to contractual disputes with the contractor, which have reportedly since been resolved.

The DA has requested a detailed update from the Department of Education and said it will report back when it receives a response.

The party has expressed concern that, despite the department being aware of the situation, schools remain incomplete at the start of the 2026 academic year.

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In contrast, construction at Birch Acres Primary School No 2, which commenced in January 2025, is progressing well and is expected to be completed by June 2026.

The new school will have approximately 80 classrooms and could accommodate learners currently housed in container schools.

Following the oversight visit, the DA said it would table questions on why a new school was prioritised while a nearby school remained incomplete.

The party also plans to table a motion calling for Birch Acres Primary School No 2 to be converted into a high school to accommodate learners from both container schools.

It further proposed the completion of Birch Acres Primary School No 1 to house learners currently attending container schools, with the aim of replacing temporary structures with permanent brick-and-mortar facilities.

“Learners cannot be expected to succeed in schools without water, electricity, or basic furniture. These conditions strip children of their dignity and violate their right to quality education,” the DA said.