UAT demands independent audit as 13,000 SA schools lack proper toilets despite Minister's claims
Thousands of South African learners still face unsafe classrooms, broken toilets, and no running water. UAT demands urgent action, independent audits, and real accountability from the Department of Basic Education.
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
The United Africans Transformation (UAT) is calling for an urgent, independently verified audit of all public school infrastructure in South Africa, along with the immediate release of the findings to the public.
This comes after comments made by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube during a parliamentary presentation last week in which she claimed that "90% of schools are in fair to excellent condition."
According to UAT, these remarks are both 'heartbreaking and outrageous' and do not reflect the daily reality faced by thousands of learners across the country.
'When the minister confidently told the nation that '90% of schools are in fair to excellent condition,' she did not speak for the thousands of learners still sitting in unsafe classrooms, walking through cracked walls, and using broken, undignified toilets,' said UAT national spokesperson Doer Mabule.
'She certainly did not speak for the parents and teachers in rural villages and overcrowded townships who are crying out for change.'
Mabule said it was about students learning in scorching hot container classrooms with no windows or proper ventilation.
The party pointed to long-standing failures in the education system, including the continued use of pit toilets, unsafe structures, and inadequate sanitation facilities.
''It's about taps that don't run, lights that don't switch on, and schools without a single working toilet.''
Despite Gwarube's admission that over 8,000 schools still require proper classrooms and 13,000 lack adequate toilets, her department has missed its March 2024 deadline to eliminate pit toilets,' a promise made to South Africans a year ago,' said Mabule.
'These are not just backlogs. These are broken promises. And behind every one of those numbers is a child who deserves better,' he said.
UAT is demanding a focused emergency plan to address 'the most dangerous infrastructure failures, collapsing classrooms, lack of water and electricity, and the disgrace of pit toilets.'
The party insists this plan must have clear deadlines and be implemented 'with urgency, not excuses.'
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Mabule emphasised that 'it is not good enough to say, 'we are working on it.' Our children are not construction projects. They are people. They are the future.'
Calling for transparency and accountability, UAT said communities have the right to know the truth and that the Department of Basic Education must start listening to those most affected, 'parents, teachers, and learners themselves.'
'We will not allow this government to continue hiding behind statistics while our children suffer in silence,' Mabule said.
'This is not about politics. It's about justice, dignity, and the kind of country we want to become. Our children are watching. Let's not fail them again.''
UAT believes that every child in this country deserves to walk into a clean, safe, and fully equipped school, not one day in a distant future, but now.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL Politics
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
'A man of unwavering principles': Ramaphosa delivers eulogy at activist cleric Tshenuwani Farisani's funeral
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the late activist cleric Rev Tshenuwani Simon Farisani as a man of unwavering principles who did not yearn for the limelight and positions. Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy at the funeral of the ANC politician at the University of Venda stadium in Limpopo on Saturday. Farisani was accorded a special official provincial funeral category two. 'He was a man of unwavering principles. Nothing could sway him from what was right, from his dedication to the cause of the people of South Africa and their total emancipation,' he said. Ramaphosa said Farisani saw himself as a mentor and 'indeed he was my mentor and he was my teacher as well'. Scores of politicians, including ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, attended the funeral. Farisani was a revered South African theologian, Lutheran minister, anti-apartheid activist and political leader. He was a man of unwavering principles. Nothing could sway him from what was right, from his dedication to the cause of the people of South Africa and their total emancipation. President Cyril Ramaphosa He was born on August 30 1948 in Songozwi village (then part of the Venda homeland in the Transvaal). He rose from rural hardship to become one of the most influential voices in liberation theology and the struggle for freedom in apartheid South Africa. 'We have lost an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life. This obituary, which has been read by his child, is an obituary that includes the life of Tshenuwani in full,' Ramaphosa said. He further added Farisani's year of birth, 1948, was a turning point in the history of South Africa, a year when the National Party swept to power and ushered in an evil spirit of apartheid that was declared a crime against humanity by the UN. 'Dean Farisani was born into circumstances that mirrored the lives of millions of black South Africans at the time. He was just a child, barely three years old, when his family was confronted with the ugly face of injustice.' He said many years later, in 1996, Farisani would testify at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on how his family became victims of forced removals from Songozwi near Makhado (formerly known as Louis Trichardt). Farisani, he said, rebelled against the dubious teachings of the Lutheran theological college at Maphumulo, from which he was expelled in 1972. Ramaphosa hails late Mam Motlana as a 'fearless and resolute' opponent of oppression President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africans should pay tribute to activist and Member of the Order of the Baobab Sally Motlana by emulating her ... Politics 1 year ago He developed an interest in liberation theology and its message that the true Christian faith demands active resistance to all forms of oppression and solidarity with the poor. He became involved with underground political organisations like the Black People's Convention, the black consciousness movement. It was at this time that Farisani travelled extensively across the country. In his many travels, he visited Mphaphuli High School, where Ramaphosa was a pupil. 'Farisani was a guest at our school's flourishing debating society, which a number of us, including Judge Raulinga, Tshifhiwa Muofhe and people like Willy Mudau, had set up. Farisani and I formed an immediate and lasting bond of friendship, comradeship and loyalty based on respect and love. He opened to me the radical interpretation of the Bible, which Farisani was later to become famous for. 'He argued the Lutheran church must turn away from political conservatism and become an instrument of opposition,' said Ramaphosa. He said Farisani was a courageous revolutionary who inspired a generation to reclaim their pride and to stand up for their rights. 'I was one of those who were hugely inspired by him. He was, in addition to everything else, a renowned academic, a prolific scholar whose writings gave voice to the voiceless. He was a guide and a mentor to many.' Ramaphosa said Farisani's activism continued into the democratic era, where he became an MEC and speaker of the legislature in Limpopo province. He said those roles placed him in a position of power and influence, yet did not change him. 'He was a servant leader who came, served and left. When he saw corruption being perpetrated by those who are trusted with public funds, he was vocal and scathing in his criticism, and that is why he was one of those when the VBS looting happened who spoke out. 'He spoke out to a point where a number of people started to hate him, but it never moved him. The foundation that bears his name continues to be an influential voice in the public space in advancing social justice. Neither beatings nor torture could make Farisani surrender his principles' .
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Words on wealth: the importance of financial regulation in protecting consumers
This article explores the critical role of financial regulation in protecting consumers from exploitation and ensuring fair market practices, highlighting recent challenges faced by regulatory bodies. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers. It shocked me to learn that the Trump administration in the United States, with the assistance of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, had dismembered and severely impeded the function of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This US government agency was established in 2011 under President Barack Obama in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008. According to the US Treasury Department, the bureau is tasked with the responsibility to 'promote fairness and transparency for mortgages, credit cards, and other consumer financial products and services'. On its website, the CFPB says its central mission 'is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans – whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products'. Wikipedia notes that many thousands of consumer complaints about financial services providers, including banks and credit card issuers, have been received and attended to by the CFPB. The CFPB is not the only US agency acting against unfair practices by financial services providers; there is the longer-running and more established Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has wide-ranging powers across business sectors that include enforcing antitrust laws. This has also been targeted by President Trump, who in March fired two of the FTC's Democratic commissioners, although the legitimacy of those firings is now being questioned in court. Which brings me to the topic of financial regulation generally. Force for good I strongly believe that regulation that levels the playing field, protects consumers from exploitation, and enables them to make better financial decisions is good for society as a whole, including the industry it regulates. Advocates of free markets would argue that companies in a competitive environment are self-regulating. I disagree. Competition is a powerful and vital force, but its nature is such that you will always have someone trying to make a quick buck by pushing the boundaries of what is normal or ethical. This is a big enough problem in a regulated environment; imagine how bad it would be in an unregulated one. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ A supreme example of pushing the boundaries is, of course, in sport - specifically those sporting codes that primarily test physical prowess, such as athletics, swimming, weight-lifting, and cycling. Before these sports became commercialised, there was little monetary incentive for athletes to cheat. Perhaps a small amount of cheating went on behind the scenes, but public perception was that the winners represented the pinnacle of human strength, speed, and endurance, and the sports codes were popular because people believed the competition was real and the winners genuine. That's not the case anymore. When I watch an athlete win a race, there's always the nagging question in the back of my mind: did he or she win on natural ability, or did performance-enhancing drugs contribute to the win? In which case, why am I wasting my time watching someone cheat? It started with a couple of risk-takers pushing the boundaries. Eventually, just to remain competitive, everyone was doping, inventing more and more elaborate schemes to evade detection. Moving targets Regulators typically struggle to keep up with the novel ways people find to push the boundaries. I like to think that the financial regulators have had more success than the sports regulators. In financial circles, there's a recent push by those on the fringes to market private equity investments, which invest in private, rather than publicly listed, companies. I have nothing against seasoned, wealthy investors putting their money into private ventures – they know the risks. I do have a problem when private equity investments are marketed to consumers who are not aware of the risks. There are currently at least two companies I know of that are marketing private equity products, including a living annuity, to the public, making out as if they are just regular products. Well, they are not regular. They carry a far higher risk for the investor than publicly listed equity. Pension funds, which have substantial assets and expertise behind them, are restricted by law to invest no more than 15% of their portfolio in private equity. And yet these fringe providers are asking consumers to trust them with their life savings.
TimesLIVE
8 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Illicit financial flows are derailing Africa's future
Illicit financial flows (IFFs) continue to undermine the future of Africa, hampering the ability of governments to adequately fund education, healthcare and development projects essential for lifting people out of poverty and fostering sustainable economic growth. As business leaders, politicians, academics and citizens, we cannot sit back. We must help curb the illegal flow of money out of our country through a cohesive effort by all stakeholders, both local and international, to ensure safeguards are put in place, laws are harmonised, and all enforcement agencies work together to address the problem. At the same time, we must not do anything that will deter investment. Ahead of G20 summit in Johannesburg in November, as well precursor meetings — such as the G20 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting and the T20 midterm conference held this month — we must formulate proposals that integrate the perspectives of public and private sector institutions, nonprofit organisations, think-tanks and universities. Together we can make valuable policy recommendations, such as using AI to turn vast amounts of data into information for developing strategic interventions. Working alongside each other, we can identify gaps in current legal frameworks and areas where greater co-operation is required. We must seek ways to stem illicit money flows. When individuals or companies evade their tax obligations, deliberately falsify import or export documents, or misappropriate funds intended for development projects, they are not committing victimless crimes. These outflows not only weaken our reputation in the eyes of the international markets, but also make it harder for the government to raise capital at manageable interest rates. We already owe too much: the National Treasury predicts that debt on our national balance sheet will be 77% of GDP this year. IFFs directly undermine economic growth, costing the South African economy the equivalent of almost 5% of annual collected tax revenue — losses of about R92.5bn. On the African continent, the numbers are more alarming, with between $50bn (about R889bn) and $90bn stolen annually, according to the UN. A 2020 report from a UN conference on trade and development states that IFFs represent as much as 3.7% of Africa's GDP. This figure has almost certainly grown since then, given that those who break laws will keep doing so if they are not held accountable. We recently convened a G20 multi-stakeholder dialogue to better understand this challenge, quantify its impact, assess current solutions, and identify new ones . One of our speakers, deputy minister of international relations and co-operation Alvin Botes, spelt out what this theft means: countries with high IFFs spend at least 25% less on healthcare and 50% less on education compared with their peers. IFFs wipe out any good the $65bn in aid Africa receives each year might do. They reduce progress made in making people's lives better. There are initiatives under way to address IFFs. For example, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) collaborates with the UN to strengthen countries' financial systems and prevent illicit outflows. While South Africa's inclusion on the FATF's grey list is viewed by some as an embarrassment, it enables us to strengthen our legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhance our anti-money-laundering capabilities. While South Africa's inclusion on the FATF's grey list is viewed by some as an embarrassment, it enables us to strengthen our legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhance our anti-money-laundering capabilities. We are also seeing prosecutions of high-level fraudsters, especially those who use dubious accounting methods to move money around and avoid paying their fair share of taxes. It is gratifying to see that action has been taken in this regard. Other UN entities have developed discussion platforms and measurement systems. There are 10 asset-recovery inter-agency networks that have 178 member countries, allowing illicit money flows to be traced across borders. In addition, Interpol supports national and international law enforcement agencies to investigate, trace and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. We must all strive towards expanding such interventions, as well as advocate for and enable closer alignment between government departments and between local law enforcement agencies and their international counterparts. However, our solutions must not cause more harm than good by discouraging legitimate investment. We should not, for example, implement unfair tax regimes that could result in capital flight. We must also not inhibit international investment inflows by making it nearly impossible to comply with legislation and regulations. Such a state of affairs would merely encourage companies to operate businesses in sectors such as import and export under the radar. Through working together by sharing data, harmonising laws and holding those responsible for IFFs accountable, we can strengthen the economy by plugging the holes through which money leaks and encouraging investment. Our people deserve nothing less.
