Shakaskraal library not up to scratch

Shakaskraal Library has not had a printer or copier for over a year.

This and other challenges were revealed when the Democratic Alliance in Ilembe inspected the facility on Monday as part of national book week.

The party have since called for better resources and services at the library.

DA member of parliament Dean Macpherson along with ward councillors Tammy Colley and Privi Makhan said the library was “simply not good enough”.

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The delegation met with librarian Pam Govender who has worked at Shakaskraal Library for 25 years. She shared with them some of the main challenges they faced.

“We visited the facility to asses its ability to service the community and we ascertained that the library is not big enough to cater for pupils from the three local schools. Pupils often have to resort to doing their homework on the floor because of the lack of available seating.” said Macpherson.

Essential equipment like printers were also not in working order.

“Libraries in KwaDukuza have not had a printer or copier for over a year after they were removed by a service provider over a sham KwaDukuza municipality tender process. Further complaints are that the internet service is slow and that there are not enough computers.”

He said it was unacceptable that pupils bear the brunt of shoddy dealings from the government and vowed to continue visiting other libraries in KwaDukuza where there are no internet services. Macpherson said he would raise the matter in parliament with the department of arts and culture.

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