Ceres school remains empty as parents demand urgent infrastructure upgrades

Learners from Nduli Primary School, in Ceres, have not returned to class as their parents fear for their safety.
 
The School Governing Body said the boycott began in the second week of October 2025, after they raised concerns about the condition of the school building and overcrowding.
 
Parents are now demanding written confirmation from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) that a new school will be built in the area, after they identified available land in a nearby suburb.  

Parents of learners attending Nduli Primary School said the deteriorating condition of the school building has been raised since 2016.

The school was built by the community with the help of donors in 1978, but parents said repeated complaints to the WCED have gone unresolved.

After identifying land in the neighbouring area of Vrederus, the parents approached the Witzenberg Municipality to request that a replacement school be built.

SGB secretary Sive Pele said that while the municipality approved the request, the department indicated plans to build a school on the site had already been finalised.

The department said that in its assessment of the school, it found the buildings unsuitable for teaching and learning. 

It added that talks are in progress with other schools nearby to accommodate learners temporarily.