We as Public Interest SA started this petition to call for the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi to ensure the rebuilding and maintenance of Sekampaneng Primary School. The school houses 2000 learners in a building that has been falling apart for eight to nine years. The parents of the learners in the school have been reporting the issue of failing and collapsing infrastructure of the school for over five years, but they have not had the issue resolved. 

Sekampaneng Primary School was built in the 1960’s and it has no building plan according to engineers. The main challenge with the school is that water keeps rising from underneath the building. This has ultimately led to an entire wall falling and school being suspended for the learners. Parents have demanded mobile classes for their children. 

South Africa has gone through two years of learners coming into classes periodically due to the pandemic. As of the 1st February the government of South Africa has eased the regulations on Covid-19, one of the regulations is that learners should go back to school regularly. What is very concerning is that learners have fallen behind in their learning now that learning will resume, it seems unfair that 2000 learners will be sitting at home due to lack of maintenance. 

It is important while we resurface from the pandemic with easier regulations that we rectify and redress the issues we have within the country, specifically for learners and youth. 

Sign our petition and call on the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi to prioritize the education of the students at Sekampaneng Primary School.