Asbestos contamination concerns as school stripped and vandalised
Noenieput Primary School has been neglected and vandalised. Picture: Supplied
THE DA lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) this week over concerns of asbestos contamination at Noenieput Primary School in the ZF Mgcawu District.
DA Northern Cape premier candidate Dr Isak Fritz stated that the vacant building was being occupied by vagrants.
“The school, which was declared unsafe, is also being stripped of its building materials that are constructed out of asbestos and pose serious health threats to the surrounding community,” said Fritz.
“The building should be secured to stop the further spread of asbestos contamination.”
He added that provincial government had failed to intervene to protect the building from vandalism and neglect.
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe indicated that the Infrastructure Unit investigated the site and buildings of Noenieput Primary School and hostel and the property was transferred to the Dawid Kruiper Municipality in 2001.
“Thus the property is no longer the responsibility of the Department of Education.”
He added that the asbestos panels of the hostel could not be re-used as it was deemed an inappropriate building material, while the roof sheeting and steel poles had all fallen into a state of disrepair.
“The community was allocated land and is utilising the materials of the hostel to construct homes.”
Van der Merwe said that learners from Noenieput Primary were relocated to Swartkopsdam VKK Primary School.