Construction work at Laerskool Jeugkrag to begin
Learners then waved placards about Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark during which learners lost their lives and some sustained injuries.
Laerskool Jeugkrag was quiet, except for a few vehicles, on Thursday, 26 September at about 11am when the official handing over the site took place.
The Standerton Advertiser closely followed developments since learners protested on 16 August in front of the circuit office of the Department of Education about infrastructure problems on the staircases.
A petition about the state of the building was handed over and seven days were given for a response from the department.
Their strong-worded petition cited chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa that refers to a safe and healthy environment, the Child Care Act 74 of 1983 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1983.
Parents, learners and teachers then shut down the school on Monday, 16 September, making good on their promise to take action. Learners then waved placards about Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark during which learners lost their lives and some sustained injuries.
The newspaper is in possession of photos from a trustworthy source in which the deteriorating staircases are highlighted.
The chairman of the School Governing Body (SGB), Mr Louis Thabethe, then said parents were angry, as well as anxious.
“What will happen when the first rain begins to fall?”
The demands included the prioritisation of the safety of the building and staircases at the school, the deployment of qualified and accredited structural engineers, a comprehensive report be made available before the end of August, temporary classrooms be made available should the upgrading of staircases begin.
The Department of Education and Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport must also prioritise the integrity of all building structures throughout the province and nationwide, as well as the department’s database of accredited structural engineers be made available to schools, should the need arise.
The newspaper contacted the provincial spokesman of the department, Mr Jasper Zwane, on Friday, 27 September who confirmed that a contractor from the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport has been appointed.
“We request the community to provide a favourable environment for the construction work to continue,” Mr Zwane said.
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