The lives of learners with severe disabilities at Ezibeleni Special School, who require protected and controlled environments, are in danger following the collapse of a boundary wall. Without a secure perimeter, the risk of unauthorised access and potential harm to these learners significantly increased over the period that learners were exposed. The Democratic Alliance (DA) urges the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to expedite the evaluation of the damage to the school due to dolomite and the process of relocating learners to a new school that guarantees a safe learning environment.
A recent DA oversight inspection at Ezibeleni revealed that three separate sections of the external school wall had fallen, leaving the school grounds completely exposed. The original structure appears to have been built without retaining columns in an area with dolomitic ground conditions, where soil instability and sinkhole formation are potential risks. Some areas of the school and hospital nearby have been closed because of hazards posed by dolomite.
See photos here, here and here.
GDE has failed to fix infrastructural defects at this school since the DA raised concerns. There is currently no report confirming whether Ezibeleni is a dolomitic site, whether a geotechnical assessment has been conducted, nor is there a timeline for expected permanent repairs or relocation of the school.
Tragically, this is not an isolated incident. In 2024, a retaining wall adjacent to a classroom for learners with severe disabilities at Nokuthula Special School collapsed, yet the GDE delayed addressing the situation. The repeated failures underline a broader crisis in the Premier Panyaza Lesufi-led government’s management of school infrastructure.
The DA will table questions to the GDE MEC, Matome Chiloane, in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), to determine whether the damage caused by dolomite at Ezibeleni has been assessed and seek an update on the school’s relocation.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would not compromise the well-being of children with disabilities but act to protect them by urgently repairing the collapsed wall at Ezibeleni, confirming whether the school is on dolomitic land, and working toward relocating the school to a safer environment. Yes, it can be done!