Parents at Dulcie September Primary School in Rabie Ridge have once again taken a stand over poor learning conditions, shutting the school on January 19 to demand urgent intervention from the Gauteng Department of Education.

The annual protest, now a recurring tradition, comes amid growing frustration over years of neglect affecting the school’s infrastructure.

According to residents, the container classrooms have broken windows, the toilets are unhygienic and offer no privacy, and some broken windows have been temporarily covered with bin plastic to keep out rain.

Read more: City of Johannesburg repairs collapsed Rabie Ridge Stadium wall after years of residents complaints

Concerns over the state of the school are not new. Last year, Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that an assessment had been conducted to address the school’s sewerage problems and that 20 chemical toilets had been provided.

Small repairs, such as fixing broken windows, were also included in the school’s maintenance budget.

However, parents said none of these promises have been acted upon. Reports from 2024 highlighted similar problems, including broken doors, exposed electrical cables, overgrown grass, and general disrepair, all of which remain unresolved.

Community members, including Shaida Sutton, Carmen Dikgasu, Godfrey Fayzel, Calvin Bantham, and George Henry, to name a few, have been vocal about the challenges affecting learners. “The Department of Education must answer and act if they are aware of the conditions here. The area is overgrown and unsafe,” said Henry.

Also read: Torrential rain results in flooding of graves and collapsed headstones in Johannesburg cemeteries

In an effort to improve conditions themselves, parents took action on January 17, cleaning the school and cutting overgrown grass. “Such conditions are unhygienic and unsafe for our children. As parents, we cannot send our children here under these circumstances…,” said Bantham.

The protest on January 19 involved parents closing the school entirely, demanding a visible commitment from the education department to repair the school and ensure learners have a safe and conducive environment for learning.

Mabona was sent an inquiry on January 19 seeking details of what actions the department has taken over the past year to address these ongoing issues. The department’s response will be published as soon as it is received.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!