Sir
I refer to the front page article on the destruction of Dundee Junior Secondary School on Oldacre Street. This is so tragic and a blatant ‘up yours’ to our society. Last year, we read week after week how parents wanted the school closed because of ‘snakes’ and poor conditions. They finally got a new temporary premises from an obdurate Education Department.
The promise to build a new school – or at least start by October 2018 – like so many other Government promises – has evaporated. Instead, this same lofty department that trumpets a culture of learning, let a vacated school with a track record of a good education, go to rack and ruin. Not even a security guard was placed there.
This is really criminal. Charges of absolute negligence should be opened. But like most things, it will be a waste of time. There will always be excuses – like apartheid’s fault, colonialism or how about the concentration camps? No, this is just plain lack of management of assets.
Heads should roll. To the vandals who are carrying away the school – I know you probably need the roofing and other materials stripped from the school – but really how could you pick on a school? Do not use the excuse it is going to be rebuilt anyway.
In South Africa, if it is not red hot or nailed down, it will be stolen. I bet no education department officials’ children attend that school either.
Brian D
