For three weeks, the playgrounds at Elra Park Primary School in Nigel, Ekurhuleni have been silent and classrooms empty, as frustrated parents have barricaded the gates in a drastic protest over what they call “unbearable” and dangerous conditions at the ageing institution.
The standoff, which has halted teaching and learning for all 1,300 learners and over 40 staff members, stems from years of complaints about the school’s dilapidated infrastructure. Parents insist their children are safer at home than risking their lives in a crumbling environment.
The crisis escalated approximately three weeks ago when a window in the old structure fell onto a staff member, breaking their arm. This incident was the final straw for parents, who immediately withdrew their children and prevented anyone from entering the premises.
“It is not nice for me as a parent to see all those things. I think health and safety is the issue here,” said one parent in an interview. Another parent shared a harrowing account of her child’s health struggles, which she directly attributes to the school’s conditions.
“My child came back from school and then all of a sudden he informed me that he’s struggling to breathe… he ended up in hospital,” she said. “I will never compromise my child’s life even for education.”
Last year, the Gauteng Education Department provided 30 mobile classrooms as a temporary solution. However, the School Governing Body (SGB) and parents say this measure has created new problems, including excessive dust, leaking roofs, a lack of electricity in some units, and overcrowding, with up to 45 learners crammed into a single mobile classroom.
“When it rains then it’s mud. If it does not rain then it’s dust. So yes, it’s a big concern for us,” an SGB member stated.
The heart of the conflict lies in a broken promise, according to the SGB. They claim the MEC for Education visited the school, witnessed the “dire state” firsthand, and immediately instructed his team to build a new school on the ample land available. An engineer was promised for an inspection the next day, but no one arrived.
The department’s spokesperson, however, presented a contradictory account. While confirming the MEC’s visit and the infrastructural challenges, he stated that subsequent professional assessments determined the old structures could be refurbished instead of demolished.
“The professionals came here and they gave us a report that no, you don’t need to demolish; you can refurbish the structures,” the spokesperson said.
This response has infuriated parents and the newly established community crisis committee, who believe a building over 100 years old is beyond repair. They are demanding nothing less than a new school.
The department has condemned the total shutdown of academic activities. In a surprising move, it also announced it would take disciplinary action against any employee who allowed staff or learners to be in the condemned main structure after it was deemed unsafe.
As the stalemate continues, 1,300 children remain at home, caught in a tug-of-war between a community demanding safe learning conditions and a department insisting on a different path to a solution. Parents have vowed not to back down until construction on a new school begins.
