KZN storm: Utrecht pupils relocated as school infrastructure crisis deepens

Learners from Umzilikazi Secondary School have been temporarily relocated to Sgodiphola Primary School following severe storm damage that destroyed several classrooms at the school earlier this month.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education confirmed that the move is an interim measure to ensure continuity of teaching and learning.

“This arrangement has been implemented as an interim measure to ensure the continuity of teaching and learning,” the Department said in a statement.

School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson Mduduzi Madi said the storm worsened a problem that has existed for years.

“From the moment I took over as SGB chairperson, the school already had a serious shortage of classrooms,” Madi said.

“There were not enough proper, permanent buildings. Most of the classrooms were mobile units or temporary structures.”

Madi explained that the school had previously raised safety and infrastructure concerns with the Department.

“I received a report from the principal at the time, who explained that there were ongoing discussions with the Department about building a permanent school,” he said. “We were told that the necessary documentation had been submitted to the Department of Public Works.”

He also recalled that a teacher had been injured as a result of the condition of the mobile classrooms.

“Following that incident, we went to the district office, where we were again informed that there were plans to build.”

Financial constraints, however, prevented the construction of permanent buildings.

“The challenge has always been funding. We were told that the Department did not have enough money to proceed with the construction,” he said.

Madi added that during the 2024 exam period, the MEC for Education visited the school.

“We spoke briefly, and we made a pledge that if the school achieved a 100% pass rate, a permanent school would be built,” he said. “We did achieve a 100% pass rate, but once again the issue of funding was raised.”

Instead of permanent buildings, the school received additional mobile classrooms, some of which were destroyed in the January storm.

“Unfortunately, during the recent storm in early January, we lost about six mobile classrooms.”

The storm also affected the administration block.

“Our administration block was affected. The roof was blown off, and we had to act quickly to repair it because important stationery and materials were stored there,” he said.

Following the damage, consultative meetings were held with the SGBs and School Management Teams of both Umzilikazi Secondary and Sgodiphola Primary School. Sgodiphola Primary School agreed to assist by providing 14 vacant classrooms.

On January 14, the Circuit Education Specialist (CES) from the Newcastle Circuit Management Centre conducted a site visit and formally secured the agreement to temporarily accommodate the learners.

The Department said educators from both schools were thanked for their cooperation. Some learners now travel longer distances, but no major challenges have been reported, and the situation is being closely monitored.

The Department emphasised that the arrangement remains temporary. The Amajuba District has submitted a proposal to Head Office for the provision of mobile classrooms as a short- to medium-term solution.

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