DA lays criminal charges against NW Education for overspending on a guardhouse

14 February 2021

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West lodged a complaint to the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit (Case Number 125/02/2021) for paying R486 000 for the construction of a guardhouse at the Promosa Secondary School.

The DA 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 process followed and the reasons for the astronomical payment.

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. 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.

During an oversight inspection to the school, the DA was informed that learners are squeezed into classrooms. During the final exams in 2020, Grade 11 and 12 learners were expected to write exams in the school hall that does not have proper lighting. A section of the ceiling fell on learners whilst writing.

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.

Instead, the Department has squandered a whopping R486 000 on a 12 square metre guardhouse – with no appointed security guard.

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.

It is clear that the Department has not followed the correct procurement process. The officials responsible for this wasteful expense must face the full might of the law.

Issued by Gavin Edwards, DA North West Spokesperson on Education, 14 February 2021