Question NW3991 to the Minister of Basic Education
03 December 2015 - NW3991
Grootboom, Mr GA to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)Whether her department complied with the regulations for the provision of sanitation to the Mmagobana Combined School in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, as stipulated in Annexure G in the Regulations Relating to Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure contained in the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996; if not, (a) why not and (b) when will her department comply in this regard; if so, (i) what are the conditions of the (aa) girls’ (aaa) toilets and (bbb) basins, (bb) boys’ (aaa) urinals and (bbb) basins and (cc) unisex disabled (aaa) toilets and (bbb) basins at the specified school; (2) whether her department will ensure that the specified facilities are in a suitable condition to be used by the learners; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
- (b), (i), (aa), (bb), (cc), According to the Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE), the school has a total of 29 toilets seats serving 656 Learners. However, there are no basins, urinals and unisex disabled toilets and the condition of the toilets is not of good standard, though still usable. On the basis of that, the sanitation infrastructure at Mmagobana Combined School partially complies with the Regulations Relating to Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure, as contained in the SA Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996. To address the situation at this school, the Mpumalanga DoE has engaged private companies for assistance in this regard. Eskom has agreed to assist the school through its Community School Improvement (CSI) Project and plans are at an advanced stage to revamp the sanitation facilities and replace the old sanitation system.
- The implementation targets are clearly outlined in the National Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards to address all the infrastructure challenges. The Mpumalanga DoE has also developed its own implementation plans towards meeting the requirements of the National Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards and their implementation is monitored by the Department on a regular basis. To this effect, the Mpumalanga Department of Education has allocated an amount of R241 million in the current financial year to address basic services and a total of 178 schools will benefit. An amount of R659 million has been allocated in the 2016/17 financial year to finally address all basic services backlog in the Province.