Chiloane denies claims Gauteng education dept is failing to fix decaying infrastructure at schools

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane says it is not true that the department is failing to sort out decaying infrastructure at schools.

A group of grade six pupils at Umthambeka Primary School in Tembisa were injured on Tuesday when a ceiling in their classroom collapsed.

Chiloane said the department is investigating the incident: “There are a number of schools that we’ve also earmarked for major refurbishments, and these are some of schools, like for instance, Umthambeka, is also earmarked for major refurbishments because the infrastructure is quite old.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters' Naledi Chirwa-Mpungose said the department mishandled funds intended to address infrastructure challenges in township schools.