Silverton High is finally to be refurbished this month – department
The refurbishment entails the replacement of roof sheets, ceilings, the roof structure and floor covering, and repair to damaged concrete and walls.
Refurbishments and rehabilitation of the decrepit Silverton High School in Pretoria east are set to commence this month and are expected to be wrapped up in May next year.
The aging school is facing issues relating to ceiling damage due to structural disintegration, concrete degradation, rusted and broken steel balustrades and broken windows.
Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson Steve Mabona said roof sheets, ceilings, the roof structure and floor covering would be replaced and damaged concrete and walls repaired.
“This means learning and teaching will soon take place in mobile and brick and mortar classrooms.”
He said the school had already received four mobile classrooms and another four brick and mortar classroom buildings.
“The available mobile and brick-and-mortar classrooms will be temporarily relocated to the hockey field while the Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) refurbishes the old buildings.”
The refurbishments and rehabilitation were scheduled for the final quarter of the last financial year but this had failed to come to fruition.
The school governing body (SGB) has alleged that the school, designed for 800 learners, currently has more than 1 000.
An SGB member who chose to remain anonymous said they haven’t had much communication with the department in a while.
“We know that a few mobile classrooms were sent to the school, however I am not quite sure if they are for the intended refurbishment or alleviating the backlog [overcrowding].
“The school had experienced a backlog [overcrowding] in January during the Grade 8 intake, however the department was supposed to send out mobile classrooms but this did not happen, so I am not sure if the classrooms that have just arrived are for the rehabilitation project.”
Concerned that part of its second floor could collapse, the school reported its ailing infrastructure to the department in 2019, but no repairwork was undertaken.
Local ward councillor Ben Chapman, who had been following the issue for a while, said stakeholders and the school were supposed to meet.
Chapman said: “We were supposed to meet last Thursday, May 2 regarding the issues at the school however the meeting was postponed and a new date is yet to be set.”
The DA also assessed the school last year after it was reported that the building was unsafe.
DA Gauteng shadow MEC for education Khume Ramulifho said the party inspected the building on August 7, 2023 following a string of complaints.
“From what we are seeing, the school needs urgent attention and we believe the department needs to intervene with renovations before it is too late,” he said during his visit.
“The children are already subjected to an unsafe environment.”
He claimed the roof had holes and “walls are breaking apart”.
“This is of great concern, as learners and teachers need to be able to work and learn in a safe environment.”
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