Survivors of the Usindiso building fire, which claimed the lives of 76 people in August 2023, are calling education authorities to accommodate their children in public schools. Some of the parents say their children have not been attending school since the tragic incident last year.

PARENTS PLEADING FOR HELP

The parents are concerned that children are just loitering around. One of the parents said that her child was rejected by a school that claimed that he was not on the list that was submitted by the education department. "My child was rejected in January and since then he's been at home. He has even given up on asking me when he will be returning to school because I don't have the answers. He is concerned about his age as he asked me if he will still go to Grade 6 next year and I told him that there's no other way."

The mother said she was worried because drug addiction is rife and their children will end up getting addicted if they stay longer having nothing to do. "He is a very smart boy because he used to stay in KwaZulu-Natal and I fetched him last year in March after his grandmother died and he passed very well. I had enrolled him at a school in Orlando East in Soweto" she said.

DEPARTMENT NOT FAIR

Human rights activist Andy Chinnah said the department had not followed up on the report they sent in December to ensure that the more than 30 children are in school. "We hoped the relevant role players like disaster management, human settlements and City of Joburg officials, who were at the scene on the day of the fire, would intervene to ensure that children were attending school.The issue of children not being placed has been raised at the Khampepe commission of inquiry and it was hoped that officials would monitor the proceedings and taken urgent and decisive action," he said. He said the SA Human Rights Commission was alerted to the problem and apparently engaged with the department, but the situation has not been remedied. Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said: "Parents of children that are out of schools are advised to visit their nearest schools (on school days) or district office or the provincial office for assistance. We always encourage parents to ensure that learners of schoolgoing ages are at school at all times.'