Questions have been raised about funds that were promised to a Northern Cape school for flood damage repairs.
Image: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers / File
THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Education is facing mounting pressure to account for more than R500,000 promised to a Daniëlskuil school for flood damage repairs in 2021, which has yet to be paid. However, the department has clarified in a statement that the affected school is Daniëlskuil Intermediate School, not Daniëlskuil Combined School, as mistakenly identified in a DA press release.
The DA has raised concerns over the missing funds and submitted formal questions to the department, demanding clarification on the whereabouts of the money. The school, which suffered extensive damage following a severe storm in January 2021, has allegedly been left to cope without the pledged financial assistance.
The storm brought 315mm of rainfall in just 10 hours, nearly an entire year’s worth of precipitation, which left the school premises waterlogged. Built in the 1980s in a low-lying area, the school is prone to seasonal flooding, worsening the extent of the damage.
Following the storm, classrooms and the computer laboratory were inundated, leaving critical infrastructure unusable. Additionally, the school struggled to provide meals to its learners due to the damage. The principal submitted an urgent appeal to the Education Department, supported by cost estimates for necessary repairs. The total damage, including electrical work, cleaning, painting, carpentry, relocation of mobile classrooms, and replacement of damaged learning and teaching support materials (LTSM), was estimated at R585,745.
In February 2021, the department confirmed in writing that it would provide funding for the repairs. However, the school has yet to receive any financial assistance. Instead, Petra Diamonds, a mining company operating in the region, stepped in to help with some of the necessary repairs.
The DA Northern Cape provincial spokesperson on Education, Priscilla Isaacs, expressed frustration over the delayed payment.
“At a time when the department blames budget shortfalls for all its shortcomings, we must scrutinise its financial management closely,” Isaacs said. “I have asked the MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo, to clarify the exact amount of funds transferred and the specific dates on which transfers took place. I have also asked if the department provided any non-financial support to the school to facilitate repairs.”
However, the Northern Cape Department of Education has since responded, stating that no specific funds were allocated for flood-related repairs and that the school received a general maintenance allocation that could have been used to address some of the damage. Department spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe explained that while the department did receive quotations for repairs, no invoices were ever submitted for payment.
“The department did receive quotations for the necessary repairs, however, no invoices were ever submitted for payment. Furthermore, several of the items listed in the quotations were unrelated to infrastructure repairs,” Van der Merwe stated. “Since no invoices were submitted and the procedures outlined in the school transfer letter were not followed, the department did not process any payments.”
Van der Merwe also noted that the department follows strict financial regulations under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). “This includes ensuring that contractors are appointed in accordance with regulatory requirements, such as being registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), holding valid tax clearance certificates, and meeting other compliance standards - even under emergency procurement protocols,” he said.
In an effort to resolve the matter, Van der Merwe confirmed that an inspector will be sent to Daniëlskuil Intermediate School this week to assess the current condition of the school and determine which repairs are still necessary.
“The department remains committed to transparency and adherence to financial regulations and encourages all schools to follow the prescribed procedures to ensure the timely and effective resolution of infrastructure challenges,” Van der Merwe concluded.