The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed that R301 658 has been allocated to Mayibuye High School for day-to-day maintenance in the current financial year, as concerns over the school’s deteriorating infrastructure continue to mount.

The disclosure comes after Midrand Reporter repeatedly questioned the department about the condition of the school, including exposed electrical cables, damaged classrooms, ablution facilities, and recent fires.

Read more: Fire at Mayibuye High School extinguished

Parents, School Governing Body (SGB) members, and community leaders shut down the school on July 22, demanding urgent intervention over unsafe conditions for learners and staff.

Since then, the school has experienced a series of incidents. On July 27, an exposed electrical cable caught fire, causing panic among learners. On July 31, container classrooms intended to accommodate Grade 12 learners were damaged by fire. On August 12, another exposed cable caught fire.

GDE spokesperson Onwabile Lubhelwana said the department had dispatched its Infrastructure Unit to assess the work required at the school. “We are waiting for a service provider to be appointed so that work can resume,” said Lubhelwana.

He confirmed that the R301 658 maintenance allocation is directly managed by the district, rather than the school.

Lubhelwana said the department had also previously repaired the school’s ablution facilities in March 2026, but further work is now required because of a lack of day-to-day maintenance, theft, and vandalism.

A meeting was also held with the school’s SGB on May 19 to discuss resource allocation and infrastructure challenges.

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The department also provided an update on plans to relocate the school. Lubhelwana said fencing and site clearance at the new site have been completed, while the contractor for the water tank was handed over on July 30.

The school will eventually relocate to a new mobile school in Klipfonteinview once the facility is completed.

The department said Mayibuye High School currently has 1 398 learners in Grades 8 to 11, while 350 learners are covered by the National School Nutrition Programme. No support staff appointments have been made, according to the GDE.

The department called on the community and SGB to help safeguard school infrastructure and urged residents to provide information that could assist in the arrest of those responsible for vandalism.

The R301 658 allocation comes as parents and community members continue to demand answers over whether the available funding and planned interventions will be enough to address the school’s mounting infrastructure problems.

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