The Northern Cape department of education has responded to allegations by the DA spokesperson on Finance in the province, Fawzia Rhoda, that the department has failed to manage school infrastructure. This follows a fire that broke out at Theron Highschool in Britstown where several classroom and infrastructure were damanged in 2019. The DA says, four years down the line and the department has not done much. The department of education says, before the Department can commence with any work that relates to burned infrastructure buildings, a structural engineer must be appointed to investigate the structural integrity. Communications officer for the department of education in the province, Geoffrey Van Der Merwe says, from a report received it was evident that the existing buildings were severely damaged by the fire, the roof was totally demolished and the structural integrity of the building is at risk.  He said it was recommended by the engineer that all the single story buildings damaged in the fire are to be demolished and reconstructed, including that all rock foundations of single storey buildings be removed and replaced with conventional concrete strip footings to comply with building regulations. Van Der Merwe states that after  the department cleared all rubble caused by the fire and removed all removable items from the structures. The structures were also demarcated to prevent entry into the area. 9 Mobile classrooms, 1 mobile kitchen and mobile ablution facilities were provided to the school to enable normal teaching and learning to continue. 

Journalist: Rene Julies
Email: rckjulies@gmail.com