Estimated cost of vandalised schools in Gauteng and KZN exceeds R300 million: Motshekga

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Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga says the estimated cost of the vandalised schools in Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal during the unrest exceeded R300 million.

She was addressing the media in Pretoria on Saturday morning on the basic education sector’s readiness to reopen schools on Monday.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga media briefing

Motshekga says engineers would be sent to damaged schools to conduct assessments to establish if the schools are safe to use.

She says  137 schools in KZN have been vandalised, three education centres and eight circuit offices. In Gauteng, 11 schools have been affected.

Motshekga also outlined the sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on education.

Motshekga says all MECs are making necessary arrangements to ensure that schools are ready to reopen on Monday. She says although the sector is ready to reopen schools, President Cyril Ramaphosa has the final say. Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Sunday

“Both Gauteng and KZN, our ablution blocks were vandalised. Plumbing equipment removed. Water suppliers [were]destroyed,  even including stealing tanks that were put in schools. Some schools had their electrical wires ripped off, copper cables stolen. School fences ripped off. Setting libraries alight with textbooks,” says Motshekga.

Motshekga says ICT centres, Nutritional centres and admin blocks were targeted at most schools.

Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Sunday and to provide clarity on whether schools in South Africa will reopen on Monday.

 

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