Ferndale school resumes operations after emergency services shutdown
Taal-Net St John School in Ferndale has reopened following a temporary closure by Johannesburg emergency management services over fire safety non-compliance.
Taal-Net St John School in Ferndale resumed operations on September 14, days after the City of Johannesburg’s emergency management services (EMS) ordered it to shut over serious fire safety failures.
School director Justin Magidi said the obstructed fire escape route flagged by inspectors has since been cleared, and the school has drawn up an internal evacuation plan — two of the key failures EMS cited when it halted operations.
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He added that the tuck shop on the premises, which inspectors found was not compliant, has been closed with immediate effect, and that a kitchen leak, linked to the fines issued by environmental health officials who found the school’s food premises did not meet health requirements, was fixed the day before the school reopened.
Magidi pushed back on how the closure was handled, describing it as an emotional decision made by a single EMS official without notifying the department of education or carrying out further investigation.
“It cannot be one man’s decision when dealing with such an institution,” he said, pointing out that the school has more than 300 learners and could not simply be shut down without proper process.
He also disputed some of what officials said about principal Tanatsiwa Zishamba during the inspection, though he did not go into detail on which statements he considered incorrect.
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Magidi said the school is a public institution that falls under the department of education, and remains willing to comply with any authority. “We are a public school, we are a public institution,” he said. “We are more than willing to comply with any authorities in any way.”
The school was fined more than R20 000 during the inspection and had built up a R36 000 electricity debt with City Power, which was settled on the day of the sweep.
Magidi acknowledged some requirements had not yet been met but said the school was working through them. “There are one or two things that may not be okay,” he said, “but if you check properly, everything that is not okay is under progress.”
The Randburg Sun has approached the City of Johannesburg for comment on the school’s reopening and will add response once received.
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