No schools will be operating in Delportshoop until the Sameloop hostel, which has been described as a ‘death trap’, is repaired.
NO SCHOOLS will be operating in Delportshoop until the Sameloop hostel, which has been described as a “death trap”, is urgently repaired.
Community members, parents and pupils protested outside Delportshoop Combined School, Frances Mohapanele Primary School, Dikgatlong Secondary School and Delportshoop Intermediate School yesterday in a desperate attempt to attract the attention of officials.
The hostel accommodates Grade 1 to 12 pupils and educators from these schools.
A parent indicated that staff had to “dig into their pockets” to ensure that pupils did not go hungry this week as the food allocation for the hostel had not been received yet.
Pupils burnt tyres outside the hostel and carried placards, chanting “we want food” on Wednesday.
A school governing body (SGB) member stated that the hostel accommodated 64 pupils and eight educators from the four schools in the area.
“The roof is rotting and almost collapsed on the pupils. There are gaping holes in the ceiling and the diner and study become flooded when it rains. There are constant electrical, plumbing and water problems. The Department of Education promised to allocate R3 million to fix the hostel but nothing has been done. There is also a critical shortage of teachers at all the schools,” said the SGB member.
She added that no schooling would resume until the hostel had been repaired.
“No schooling will take place until the hostel is fixed – everyone will remain at home until then. Although we did not want to resort to these actions, it appears as if this is the only language that the government understands.”
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said an assessment had been completed for the renovations and repairs at Sameloop hostel.
“The department is in the process of appointing a contractor and will prioritise the matter,” said Van der Merwe.
