A massive sinkhole at the Relebohile High School in Khutsong, a mining twon on the West Rand has disrupted learning and teaching at the school in the past week. The DA has also said they will approach the Human Rights Commission to report Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane for failing to address the issue. But Chiloane says they have everything under control and dismissed the Democratic Alliance's (DA)'s statement on the issue as, "sensationalism and an. opportunistic response to the unfortunate situation'. 

A NATURAL DISASTER  

DA spokesperson on education, Khume Ramulifho said MEC Chiloane has not done anything to ensure that teaching at the school was not negatively impacted by this natural disaster. Speaking to News24, Ramulifho said, "We can't allow our pupils to sit at home when there are options that the department can explore. We are going to approach the SA Human Rights Commission for an intervention. We are dealing with the denial of the basic rights of our children. These children are likely to be lost to the system. We are playing with their future. We need urgent intervention and to force the authorities to act on their mandate," Ramulifho. "Firstly, we would like to dispel an insinuation peddled by the DA that the Gauteng Education Department (GDE) is not doing anything to ensure that the impact of the sinkhole at Relebogile Secondary does not negatively affect the learners longer than necessary,' said Chiloane. "Since February, when the matter came to our attention, several interventions have been undertaken to mininise the negative impact of the disaster on Relebogile learners. The first step was to naturally ensure that we protect the lives of all who use the school by immediately evacuating and stopping classes so that we do not put our learners and officials; lives at risk. Once that was done, we ensured that Relebogile learners were accommodated at a neighbouring school as an interim measure, with their classes taking place between 12h00 and 17h00 daily,' MEC Chiloane said. MEC Chiloane added that the school, working with the district, was also implementing a catch-up programme for learners while waiting for a permanent solution. 

SOLUTIONS 

GDE says about 28 mobile classes have been delivered to an identified site to accommodate affected learners. Chiloane added that there were also plans to finalise water connectivity so that learners can occupy the mobile units as soon as possible. "Further plans are in progress to accommodate all Grade 12 learners at a camp in due course, with the intention to assist them before their final examination,' Chiloane said. He added that the department will continue to monitor the situation at the school and ensure that they provide more support, as needed. "We call for patience and urge the community to allow us to implement our interventions so that our children do not suffer any further,' he said.