The DA in the JB Marks Local Municipality was invited to attend a community meeting in Promosa last week where residents raised concerns about the state of the Promosa High School and the Promosa Secondary School.
Parents expressed concern over the dilapidated asbestos buildings that have exposed learners to these dangerous structures for almost three years. See images here, here and here.
The Department of Education has on numerous occasions over the last three years promised to safely remove the asbestos buildings. In typical ANC fashion, no action has been taken. Parents and teachers were left to cordon off access to these buildings in a bid to prevent learners from coming into contact with the exposed asbestos.
Broken asbestos poses a significant health risk. Inhaled asbestos fibres have been known to cause diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
Even though the buildings have been cordoned off, the increased health risks to learners, teachers and nearby communities remain.
In 2021, the DA approached the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for an investigation into the department’s inability to remove the asbestos buildings, however to date, nothing has come from it.
The Independent Development Trust (IDT), on behalf of the Department of Education, was set up to appoint contractors to bid for the contract for demolishing, removing and disposing of asbestos buildings. The IDT is yet to confirm whether a contractor was appointed.
It is unacceptable that the ANC government continues to ignore the health and safety of the school’s learners and staff members.
The DA will through our Spokesperson on Education in the North West Legislature, Winston Rabotapi MPL, write to the MEC of Education, Viola Motsumi, requesting that she instruct her department to ensure the immediate removal of the asbestos buildings by licensed asbestos abatement professionals and to conduct asbestos exposure tests on learners and staff members for early detection purposes.
The health and safety of people should always be the priority of the government. It is only when a DA government gets voted in that people’s basic needs will be met.
