Silverton school up for renovation next year

The ageing Silverton High School on Schuch Street in the east of Pretoria is set to receive much-needed renovation upgrades in 2025, according to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).

These planned upgrades will address increasing enrolments and a revitalised educational experience for learners.

Departmental spokesperson Steve Mabona said it is anticipated renovations will be from May 2025 to September 2026 thereafter the department could accommodate more learners in the schooling district.

The ageing infrastructure includes damage to the ceiling due to structural disintegration, concrete degradation, rusted and broken steel balustrades and broken windows.

Silverton High School was oversubscribed during the Grade 8 January intake that four mobile classrooms and another four brick-and-mortar classrooms had to be added.

Earlier this year, the department said the mobile classrooms were temporarily relocated to the hockey field while the Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) refurbishes the old buildings.

The school is allegedly designed for 800 learners, however in the 2024 academic year it had over 1 000 learners.

The refurbishments and rehabilitation were scheduled for the final quarter of the last financial year but this did not come to fruition.

The school reported to the department in 2019 that its second floor could collapse but no repair work was undertaken then.

“It must be noted that the said project entails the replacement of roof sheets, ceilings, roof structure, floor covering, and repair of damaged concrete and walls,” Mabona said.

The DA also assessed the school last year after it was reported that the building was unsafe.

Watch the oversight visit:

DA former 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 saw, 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 in 2023.

“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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