Snakes and poor conditions for learning: Parents fear for their children’s lives at Gauteng school

From container classrooms with broken doors and windows to snakes and only five, not fully functional, toilets standing outside.

Parents of learners at the Durban Deep Primary School in Johannesburg have raised concerns over the state of the school.

They told The Citizen that the government has been promising to build a proper school for several years, but has still not fulfilled its promise.

“Instead of building the school, they keep bringing more containers, and the children break these things easily. They are not safe at all”, said one parent.

Another said that the state of the toilets was so bad their child had fallen ill.

“My child had an infection more than once because of these toilets, but nothing has been done even after that.”

Snakes on sight

The school is located next to a veld, and snakes have been spotted on its grounds. This has left parents anxious about whether their child could be bitten.

“Not long ago, we killed a python here. Yes, it didn’t bite our kids but who’s to say it won’t next time.

“These classrooms with no doors will not protect our children from those snakes,” said the father of one of the schoolchildren.

ALSO READ: Dismay at Durban Deep Primary

Concerns falling on deaf ears

The school governing body refused to give comment to The Citizen, while the Gauteng education department had not responded by the time of publishing. Their comment will be included once received.

The community is planning a protest at the school to raise awareness of their struggles, but they believe politicians will only listen when they want their support.

“Voting time is coming, and these politicians are going to come here and give us empty promises again. They only give us attention when they want votes, but they never help,” said one parent.

“We have been appearing on the news fighting for this. I don’t want to be on TV again; I am tired.”