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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been alerted to a developing crisis at a Durban school where learning and teaching are not fully taking place. This as a result of KZN’ disaster management’s failing to find alternative accommodation for approximately 150 informal settlement residents being housed at the facility after losing their homes during the recent KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) floods.

According to the eThekwini municipality, the school, Pemary Ridge Primary School in Reservoir Hills, has been used as temporary accommodation for flood victims from the nearby Kokhoba settlement since 12 April.

KZN’s Disaster Management originally informed the principal that it would look for alternate accommodation the very next day. However, this has not taken place, with up to 300 people now descending on the school on rainy days.

The DA is deeply sympathetic to the plight of this community. However, it is imperative that learners’ education is not further disrupted.

Our schools are also not designed to house people. The ablution facilities are not suitable and do not afford any dignity, with the oversight revealing;
- Bathrooms without showers or baths, leaving just basins for bathing
- Two sets of toilets have been demarcated for use by community members, however junior primary toilets are still sometimes used by adult community members
- No cleaning or chemical products, with the school having exhausted all resources
- Condoms, alcohol bottles and cigarette ends on the property
- Cooking taking place in the classrooms while the astro turf has been burnt
- Classes being disrupted by people walking along corridors and;
- Children unable to use the playground due to the adult traffic

Last week, DA KZN Leader, Francois Rodgers, was alerted to the situation at Pemary Primary. He immediately spoke to the Premier, who assured him that the school would return to normal by the end of the week. Regrettably, this has not happened. In fact, the situation has escalated, with more than 150 people housed in two classrooms.

During a DA oversight visit on Tuesday this week, I made contact with the Premier again. He assured me that he would ensure that a multi-departmental team visited the and that everything would be dealt with by Thursday morning. He also assured me that the community group would be relocated by today so that teaching and learning could resume in full.

None of this has taken place. The Premier’s broken promises beg the questions - how much control does he have in KZN? Can we trust anything he says? And, importantly - when will all these learners be back at school? All we have been now told is that community members will apparently be moved on Monday next week.

During our discussion, I also highlighted the concern that illegal business fora had already been to the school, inciting community members not to move to a hall provided for their use and instead demand proper housing. This has been compounded by the alleged involvement of an ANC-aligned ward committee member who has been doing the same.

During Tuesday’s oversight, parents expressed concern for the safety and security of their children - a legitimate concern given that there is no security service at this school. Attendance has also dwindled to about 50% as a result. This while the relationship between the school and the community has steadily deteriorated due to uncertainty of the situation.

Anecdotal information suggests almost 100 KZN schools are inaccessible and/ occupied. The DA remains hopeful that the Premier will keep his word for once and get on top of resolving issues which seem to be fuelled by members of his own party.

He and his cabinet need to be clear, present and hands-on in order for this to be resolved. I will re-enagage with him to check if he will eventually keep his word in the interest of all involved.

Issued by DA KZN Spokesperson on Education, Dr Imran Keeka, MPL