North nursery school not hijacked – dept
The GDE says a report reveals that the department appointed a security company to safeguard the property as plans to renovate the centre were at play.
Gauteng Education says it is not aware that its abandoned nursery school north of Pretoria is now home to squatters.
According to DA Gauteng shadow MEC for education Khume Ramulifho, the department abandoned the early childhood development (ECD) centre in Sinoville in 2017. This has resulted in the absence of nursery schools for parents and guardians in the immediate area.
“The department has abandoned an ECD centre, Acuna Matata nursery school, in Tshwane, depriving children of access to a nursery school.
“This is a burden to parents and guardians who now pay for transportation for their children to commute to nearby areas to access nursery schools.”
Ramulifho said the centre closed in 2017 due to excessive water and electricity bills.
He said to add stress, the site was illegally invaded.
“The DA conducted an oversight inspection at the nursery school, and we discovered that the building is dilapidated, and allegedly used as a drug den.
“We were also shocked to learn that nearly 20 people claimed to have been paying rent of R1 000 to department officials [to live there] since 2017,” Ramulifho claimed.
The DA has since demanded education MEC Matome Chiloane investigate the allegations.
“Should it be found that these allegations are true, criminal cases must be opened and disciplinary action taken against those implicated.”
Departmental spokesperson Steve Mabona told Rekord that the department was aiming to repurpose the site for educational purposes.
“We can confirm that we are not aware of the alleged hijacking of the building where Acuna Mathata pre-primary is housed.
“A report at our disposal reveals that the department appointed a security company to safeguard the property while the department was busy with plans to renovate the centre and turn it into Grade R classes for a primary school.”
He said there was a plan to create more space for grades 1 – 7 at the Northridge primary school at the ECD centre.
The department did not say if it would investigate the rent claims or clarify the repurposing of the facility which has been non-operational for just under six years.
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