Chiloane says GDE plans to relocate pupils after sinkhole damages school

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said his department planned to relocate pupils whose school was destroyed by a sinkhole “at some point”.

Pupils at Relebogile Secondary School were forced to start the academic year in mobile classrooms after a sinkhole caused extensive damage to some parts of their school building.

Eyewitness News visited the community earlier on Wednesday where parents expressed concern about the temporary classrooms being close to where the sinkhole formed.

Chiloane said his department was mulling over plans to relocate the school children.

"Perhaps we should relocate them. It's simple. They should understand that where they are sitting we can not guarantee the safety of their homes, so we are talking to the communities, we are trying to find each other but obviously, people are sentimental about their homes but the truth of the matter is that the area is volatile."

The MEC said while the department planned to rebuild the school, pupils would have to wait indefinitely for a brick-and-mortar classroom.

"They are still in that area but if you can go now, we have actually really ensured that it becomes a conducive environment for them to teach. The classroom numbers are sufficient. It's actually a school now but we are building a new school. For now, there is still a discussion and also the budget."