Amid corruption allegations in the KZN Department of Education involving the procurement of PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic, the IFP challenges the KZN MEC of Education, Kwazi Mshengu, to come clean about which companies have been appointed to drill water boreholes in KZN Schools.
This follows the announcement made by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education that it plans to drill more than 1 000 boreholes in schools across the province, to address the problem of water shortages. It launched the borehole project at the Khulani Special School in the uMkhanyakude District recently.
We welcome the initiative by the KZN Department of Education to ensure that schools have a reliable water supply, even if it is being implemented by the implementing agent. However, we want MEC Mshengu to be transparent about the following:
- Which company/companies have been appointed to drill boreholes?
- When will the tenders be advertised?
- How much will be spent on drilling boreholes?
- When will the boreholes be drilled?
- Which schools will benefit from the drilling of boreholes?
- How many schools have no reliable water supply?
The IFP believes that everything must be transparent, particularly amidst allegations of corruption in the KZN Department of Education. Every cent that is spent by the Department on service delivery programmes must be accounted for. We cannot tolerate an attitude of secrecy while there are people who are looting public funds under the guise of service-delivery. Further, we urge the MEC, as a political head of the Department, to be all ears about all what is happening in his Department; if things go wrong, he is the person who will be held accountable.
The MEC must provide a clear time frame on when the boreholes will be drilled in schools because even now, learners are suffering and at risk due to water shortages. Unnecessary delays will not be tolerated.
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Contact:
Mrs Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Education
071 884 3844