We call this a school? Outraged Diepsloot parents claim kids sent to unfinished construction site

702's Bongani Bingwa is joined by Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.

Listen below:

How do we send children to an unfinished construction site and call it a school?

Bingwa posed the question to Chiloane on Wednesday.

This was after a group of parents from Diepsloot reported that, after desperately trying to find a primary school for their children, the one they were finally accepted to was still under construction.

The glimmer of hope was Tanganani Primary School, but that hope quickly faded when parents arrived to find temporary structures, no running water and a shortage of permanent teaching staff.

Chiloane says the school is 90% complete.

"It's certain sections. It's minor construction work. It's not that heavy construction work where there's dust... It's just the connection of pipes that they are concluding."

- Matome Chiloane, Gauteng Department of Education 

Chiloane says the children who are attending the school are not unduly impacted by the construction work, and there are mobile toilets and a water tank on site.

He adds that the school is also not yet at full capacity and that there has been a phased introduction of learners to the facility.

"We still have learners at different schools in the area, and we will be phasing them into the school in the next week or two."

- Matome Chiloane, Gauteng Department of Education 

The experience of these parents and learners reflects a broader crisis.

The Gauteng Department of Education recently acknowledged that primary schools in the area are severely overcrowded, with a shortfall of more than 100 classrooms.

Chilone admits that there are six teachers at the school, where 185 pupils attend.

"New teachers are going to be appointed. The advertisement was done at the beginning of the week, however, educators ARE at the school.

- Matome Chiloane, Gauteng Department of Education 

Scroll up to listen to the full interview.

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