KZN premier promises action to repair storm damaged schools
Zikalala visited Ndukebandla and Malanda primary schools in Mtubatuba and witnessed first-hand the extent of the devastation caused to school infrastructure
KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala expressed satisfaction about the level of school readiness in the province when schools reopened last week.
He conducted an assessment of schools affected by recent storm damage as part of a school functionality programme in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality.
This comes after KZN Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu gave an update on school readiness and confirmed that, out of a total of 186 schools affected in the province, 90 required serious attention and the deployment of mobile classrooms.
During his tour, Zikalala witnessed first-hand the extent of the devastation caused to school infrastructure. He visited Ndukebandla and Malanda primary schools in Mtubatuba.
He said the storm damage would not interrupt the reopening of schools because the department would provide mobile classrooms as temporary relief.
‘We will ensure all the damaged schools will be repaired. The estimated cost to the provincial government will be more than R200-million.
Zikalala added that the provincial government has also put into place a programme to upgrade schools, which includes replacing asbestos roofing on classrooms.
‘Although the programme of repairing damaged schools will take some time, we are confident it will be completed by the end of the second quarter.’
