Statement by Donald Grant, Minister of Education in the Western Cape

This morning, Minister for Education in the Western Cape Donald Grant visited Vista High School in the Bo-Kaap to assess the damage caused by gale force winds over the weekend.

“A section of Vista High School was badly affected yesterday morning,” said Grant.

“This section includes the staff room, one classroom, storeroom and the roof over a staircase.”

Grant said that the Department’s Directorate for Operational Support (DOS) and the Department for Transport and Public Works (DTPW) had already visited the school this morning to determine the extent of the damages.

“DTPW has been requested to remove all the debris and to write a report to DOS in order to obtain approval for funds that would make the site safe,” he said.

“At this stage it is not clear how much the damages would cost, but we estimate it to be around R1.2 million.”

Grant said that, including Vista, 32 schools in the Province had been damaged by storms this year.

“The previous 31 incidents came to a total cost of R4.57 million to the Department,” he said.

“I am just grateful that in none of these incidents, learners or educators were hurt. We are lucky that most of the damage caused came at a time when learners were not at school.”

Grant added that many of the schools have been repaired.

“The repairs to the storm damaged schools in October will be completed by January 2010 before schools open in the new school year.”

For enquiries, contact Bronagh Casey:  072 724 1422 or brcasey@pgwc.gov.za.

Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za