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The Ikhwezi Lokusa Special School for learners with disabilities will finally get an R11.2 million rand facelift from the Eastern Cape Department of Education.
This came after widespread media reports of the poor conditions at the hostel, with children sleeping on brick beds, washing in cold water, and allegations of abuse by staff.
Bhisho education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima says a contractor, Maliswana Trading, was appointed last week and has already started phase one of the project by demolishing the brick beds.
He says phase two will include new ablutions, modern beds, and the provision of generators to counter blackouts.
"This is a four-month project. It will see the replacement of the school flooring, broken windows, damaged doors, and upgrades to the sewer system. It will provide water reticulation and storm water drainage, along with the replacement of sanitary fittings for girls and the painting of internal walls in both the hostels," Mtima said.
He said due to the current work underway, the school academic calendar is expected to start in February to accommodate both phases of the renovations.
This move to renovate however comes after the Education Department confirmed that the now-crumbling special school in Mthatha was privately owned and that they were renting.
The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities visited the school last week and also threatened to take the department to court amid the widespread claims of neglect and abuse of the at least 189 vulnerable learners at the facility.
NCPD national director Therina Wentzel said it appeared that the department was dragging its feet in addressing what she said were very concerning issues at the school.
"The only thing that we've heard [from the education department] is that they'll be doing an investigation - but that was a couple of months ago," Wentzel told Algoa FM News in an earlier interview.
"We knew about the Ikhwezi Lokusa school for many, many years," she said.
