SEBOKENG.- The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an oversight visit at the Zone 13 library in Sebokeng yesterday.

The party said that this follows numerous complaints from community members over the operation and unavailability of staff members at the library.

Dady Mollo, DA Emfuleni Mayoral candidate said that the library is in a dysfunctional state and that there is no management system in place to manage staff members as senior managers are available on a rotational basis.

“No one is held accountable for the poor state and performance of the library. Staff members allegedly arrive late to work and community members sometimes find the library locked when it should be open. Staff members also leave early before closing time, leaving security guards to oversee the operation of the library. The staff kitchen and toilets are appalling. The library is dirty and covered in dust due to a lack of maintenance. The books on the shelves are outdated and don’t support the current curriculum for learners and students, leaving students with no alternative to do research and other school work. There is no stable internet connectivity available for the public.”

Mollo said that as gateways to knowledge and culture, libraries play a fundamental role in society.

“The resources and services they offer create opportunities for learning, support literacy and education, and help shape the new ideas and perspectives that are central to a creative and innovative society. It seems, however that this is not the focus of the Municipality and it must be addressed. The DA will table questions in Council to determine the exact number of staff members hired at the library, the reporting processes and operational procedure. We will also request Council and the Municipal Manager’s office to implement remedial actions to improve the state of the library, by amending the reporting duty lines, managing staff punctuality and ensuring the cleanup of the library.”