North West Education spent R486 000 on a guardhouse

News South Africa

Tebogo Msimanga |

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West lodged a complaint to the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit against Department of Education for paying R486 000 for the construction of a guardhouse at the Promosa Secondary School.

DA North West Spokesperson on Education  Gavin Edwards said the party also submitted written questions to the MEC for the Department of Education, Wendy Matsemela, seeking clarity on the guardhouse that could have been built for less than R200 000.  

“The school is experiencing a severe shortage of classrooms, to the extent that learners are taught in “shift” cycles in order to cover the curriculum.” Said Edwards.

He added that parents at the school are outraged that the Department chose to build a guardhouse at the school, while their children are expected to attend school in an unacceptably unsafe environment.

Inside the guardhouse

“In August 2020, the DA requested that the MEC address the issue of asbestos classrooms on the school property. Now, more than 6 months later, absolutely no progress has been made in demolishing the unsafe buildings or to find solutions to the overcrowded classrooms.”

Edwards further said the cost associated with building the structure has raised many questions including how the Department issued an order on 21 December 2020. “The building site was handed over on 12 January 2021, and the structure was completed two weeks later, by the beginning of February 2021.”

The DA said it is clear that the Department of Education has not followed the correct procurement process. “The officials responsible for this wasteful expense must face the full might of the law.”

Just News reached out to the Department of Education for a comment. They promised to reply but they didn’t.

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