DA calls for DBE to engage Police and Public Works to protect school infrastructure following looting
4 August 2021
The DA calls on the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to engage with the Departments of Police and Public Works to implement a plan of action to protect school infrastructure against criminals. A presentation by the DBE to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on Tuesday revealed that a total of 148 schools (144 in KwaZulu-Natal and in 4 Gauteng) were vandalised during the ANC-sponsored violent looting and unrest. This is in addition to the 1 882 schools that were vandalised since March 2020, of which 1 700 are still being repaired.
The total cost of the damage from the unrest is sitting at over R140 million. What is disappointing to note is that, outside of the unrest, many schools have experienced repeated cases of vandalism. In Gauteng alone, 138 schools were affected more than once. This highlights the DBE’s inability to work with other Departments such as Police, Public Works and Treasury to ensure that proper resources are allocated to protect and repair school infrastructure.
In addition to these measures, the DBE must work with local communities to implement cost effective plans to protect their schools. Our schools are in a dire state, and we must use all possible resources and avenues to protect schools and to protect our learners' futures.
In addition to our call for the DBE to engage with relevant Departments, we have also requested the following interventions in relation to school infrastructure: