EC Eds Dept responds to Uitenhage school furniture debacle

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

The Department of Education in the Eastern Cape is disputing the fact that its refusing or unable to deliver desks to the Solomon Mahlangu High School in Uitenhage.

The school was recently refurbished at a cost of R2m but has been standing empty for more than a year.

According to the school governing body it iss because the Bhisho Education Department does not have the R88 000 needed to transport the school's furniture from East London to Kwanobuhle.

Fed up parents and learners have now closed their dilapidated and almost derelict temporary home at the VM Kwinana High School, saying they've had enough.

However, Education Department spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani says "in terms of the public finance management act they've had no choice but to query the excessive quotations and costs received for the supply of furniture for the school."

He says they're engaging with the service providers to revise their quotations to fall within the specification limits.

Pulumani said that they're hoping to have the order for the furniture issued by no later than Friday.