GDE wastes money on school rent despite owning more than 120 abandoned schools.

VEREENIGING - The DA says instead of the Gauteng Department of Education fixing over 120 abandoned schools in the province, they are paying monthly rent for 20 schools. The DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho say Phoenix Secondary School, formerly known as Hoer Tegniese Skool in Duncanville, Vereeniging, is one of many schools where the department is paying millions of rand for rent for a property that used to be owned by the department. This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. Chiloane however failed to disclose the monthly rent per school. According to Ramulifho, it is unacceptable that rent is being paid, yet there are so many closed and abandoned schools in the province that can be renovated and used for learning and teaching. The DA has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to get a full disclosure of how much the department is paying a month for rent per school.