Latest news with #GautengDepartmentofInfrastructureDevelopment
IOL News
28-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Gauteng Education Department warns of alarming rise in school fire incidents
The Gauteng Department of Education has raised the alarm over the increase in the number of fire incidents in Gauteng schools following a fire that broke out at the Riverlea Secondary School. Image: Supplied The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has raised an alarm over the number of fire incidents across its schools in the province. The department has recorded at least 29 fire incidents across Gauteng schools between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 financial years. According to the department, of these, six schools have been repaired by the Department at a total cost of R9.3 million with an additional 10 schools having been repaired through insurance claims, School Governing Body (SGB) funding, or private donations. On Tuesday, departmental spokesperson, Stave Mabona indicated that 13 schools have not yet been repaired due to the extent of the damage. The department has also confirmed that the reconstruction of Riverlea Secondary School, where a devastating fire destroyed 11 classrooms last month, will cost approximately R2.5 million. Mabona indicated that the department has implemented fire safety measures at the school after a fire which started in an unused classroom, quickly spread to an entire classroom block, including four classrooms used by Grade 8 pupils, and the boys' toilet block was damaged. Mabona added that some of the cases have been referred to the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, led by MEC Jacob Mamabolo. "These cases have been referred to the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) for detailed assessment and project implementation. The exact cost for these repairs will be determined following completion of those assessments. The department acknowledges that many schools lack adequate fire safety infrastructure. "While some high-risk schools have been equipped with firefighting resources, including extinguishers, fire blankets, and emergency signage, compliance across all schools remains a work in progress. Firefighting and emergency response training is provided to learners and educators through accredited programmes," Mabona stated.
IOL News
29-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Is Gauteng's R34 million rental bill justifiable? Premier Lesufi seeks answers
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has hired an independent forensic firm to investigate the provincial government's expenditure on lease agreements after it emerged that R34 million is being paid out monthly for rentals. Last week, DA Gauteng spokesperson for infrastructure development, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane issued a statement, saying the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) wastes over R34 million monthly on office rentals, while 41 provincial government buildings stand empty and abandoned. 'Instead of wasting taxpayers' money on renting office space, GDID must fix the buildings that are not in use due to non-compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards,' Rasilingwane said at the time. On Tuesday, Panyaza's spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the ongoing investigation seeks to ascertain if the huge rentals bill is wasteful expenditure for the province. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. 'I think it (the probe) is to ascertain whether there is wasteful expenditure by our government and what are other options. Other options have been toyed around, part of it being to go through private-public partnership, which we think is a very viable option to bring back some of government buildings which are dilapidated,' he said. Mhaga said it is anticipated that the investigators would not take much time in the probe. Additionally, Mhaga said the Gauteng government has an ongoing mega project to revitalise the Joburg central business district, which has been abandoned by the majority of private sector businesses who moved to areas like Sandton and Rosebank.
