Welcome Community Driven Citizen Movement (Gatvol) Voice for Change visited Western Holdings Primary School to conduct a surveillance inspection regarding ongoing issues.
Facebook/Gatvol Voiceforchange
- Parents and the community closed Western Holdings Primary in Welcome due to leaking mobile classrooms, unsafe debris, standing water, overgrown grounds and broken fencing.
- The department set deadlines to fix the leaks by June 19, complete the barricades by June 15, clear the rubble and bring forward the tender to appoint a contractor by the end of July or early August.
- Officials will provide updates and engage parents as ongoing work progresses, with the aim of restoring safe learning conditions and rebuilding trust.
The Free State Ministry of Education says repairs to leaking mobile classrooms and safety improvements at Western Holdings Primary School in Welcome are underway after parents and community members closed the school earlier this month due to long-standing infrastructure concerns.
Ministry spokesperson Howard Ndaba confirmed that officials were aware of the closure and said interventions were being made to address some of the issues raised by the community.
The intervention follows a protest by parents and community members who closed the school on June 1, citing unsafe learning conditions and delays in the construction of a new school building.
Following an oversight visit to the school, ward councilor Estelle Dancy said she had noticed serious safety issues at the site.
“During my supervision visit to Western Holdings Primary School, I discovered standing water, rubbish, overgrown grass and no fencing around parts of the site. Students have direct access to these areas, posing a serious safety risk,” she said.
READ | Students at this school in Limpopo take exams in an old carport
Dancy said parts of the site where construction would take place appeared neglected.
“At the entrance to the site there are abandoned trucks, incomplete structures and fencing, giving the impression of a project that has been left unattended,” she said.
She added that there was little visible progress in the construction of the new school building.
“The community is frustrated by what they see as repeated delays and unfulfilled promises,” Dancy said.
Community member Tumelo Moqeke said residents welcomed the commitments now being communicated by the department, but remained concerned that many of the interventions had only come about after years of delays.
“Students have been exposed to unsafe and inappropriate learning conditions,” he said.
Moqeke said the immediate concern of the community was not only the completion of the long-term infrastructure project, but also the safety and well-being of the students currently attending the school.
READ | Teachers, students and parents in Gauteng fear continued attacks
He said parents had repeatedly raised concerns about leaking mobile classrooms, unsafe demolished buildings and inadequate learning facilities, which they believed were negatively impacting teaching and learning.
Although the department had now set timelines for repairs, barricades, tender processes and the appointment of a contractor, Moqeke said many parents remained cautious.
He said:
There is a significant trust deficit between the community and the authorities, as similar commitments have not always translated into visible progress on the ground.
Moqeke said parents want urgent repairs to the mobile classrooms, the removal or safeguarding of dangerous infrastructure, regular public updates on progress and direct engagement between the department, school management, parents and community representatives.
“The closure of the school reflects the level of frustration among parents who feel their concerns have not received sufficient attention, despite being raised repeatedly. Ultimately, parents want to see tangible action on the ground rather than promises. The priority remains the safety, dignity and education of the children who attend Western Holdings Primary School,” he said.
According to the department, leaking roofs on the school’s mobile classrooms have been investigated and repairs are expected to be completed by June 19. The closure of the construction site is also expected to be completed by June 15.
The department further indicated that plans to provide permanent infrastructure at the school were progressing through tender processes, with a contractor expected to be on site by the end of July or early August.
“The target date is still June 26 to sit on the executive agency BAC committee and then seek the approval of the accounting officer,” Ndaba said.
He said the department had also instructed those responsible for the site to clear the debris left behind after the demolition of the school’s old infrastructure.
“When the previous contractor demolished the previous infrastructure, it was a mess and unsafe for the students. We asked them to clean up the items and put them aside so that they do not become a danger to the students.”
Democratic Alliance spokesperson for education in the Free State Legislature, Jafta Mokoena, added that the appointment of a consultant to oversee the project and the involvement of community stakeholders were positive developments.
Justine Lebaka
www.news24.com
