(Archive photo: Maroela Media)
-
Schools in Pretoria had to introduce emergency plans after power was cut off due to administrative negligence, but a court order now forces the supply to be restored.
-
Meanwhile, a court in Pretoria intervened and ordered that the power supply to all involved schools must be restored.
-
AfriForum welcomes the court order and the costs order against the metro.
Pretoria schools have been plunged into crisis this past week, after their power supply was cut off – a situation which, according to role players, directly stems from the Gauteng education department’s mismanagement and failure to pay property taxes.
Solidarity’s Teacher Network says school principals and governing bodies had to apply crisis management in a hurry to maintain basic functioning, while thousands of learners and teachers were directly affected.
According to Johan Botha, head of the network, it is “unthinkable that schools have to endure this inconvenience as a result of the department’s administrative and financial mismanagement”.
“Schools are already under great pressure on various levels. And now this,” he says.
He warns that the lack of electricity affects the core of teaching. “Without power, teachers cannot do their job properly,” as essential functions such as digital access, administration, communication and security systems are compromised.
Botha says learners are ultimately the biggest victims of a crisis that “came about without any involvement of the schools themselves” and which he describes as the result of the department’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities.
“It is unacceptable that schools are literally left in the dark due to the department’s negligence,” he says. “Teachers and school managements do everything in their power to keep the system going, but are repeatedly let down by the department.”
He adds that schools are now forced to allocate additional funds to generators to continue teaching – an expensive and unsustainable solution.
The Teachers’ Network further warns that the crisis is part of a larger problem: “The Gauteng education system is faltering under the weight of poor planning, inadequate infrastructure and the department’s inability to fulfill its basic duties.”
(Archive photo: Unsplash)
Court intervenes after urgent application
Meanwhile, a court in Pretoria intervened and ordered that the power supply to all involved schools must be restored.
AfriForum, together with Wierdapark Primary School, brought the urgent application, after it became clear that several schools were “literally left in the dark”.
According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, schools have paid their electricity bills and in some cases even in advance.
The problem lies with property taxes that must be paid by authorities, but “doesn’t seem to be happening in the Tshwane metro”.
“It is unfair that learners’ and staff’s rights to quality education, safety and even the provision of their basic needs are violated due to the authorities’ maladministration.”
She says teaching was disrupted, security systems went down and feeding schemes could not continue, while food supplies spoiled. Even where generators were available, only essential services could be provided at “an extremely high cost”.
“Even this deficient use of electricity was therefore not sustainable,” she adds.
AfriForum welcomes the court order and the costs order against the metro.
“This provides quick relief and confirms the illegal nature of their actions,” says Bailey. “Not only does it punish the innocent, but it harms learners’ right to quality education and safety, which is totally unacceptable.”