Nonhlanhla Kobokwana
AS THOUSANDS of Gauteng children started their first day in school, it was not the case at Emadwaleni High School in Orlando West, as it was being renovated.
Bored children and teachers had nothing to do as construction workers were busy with renovations, which started in October.
While the top floor of the three-storey building is almost complete, having been painted and the windows fixed, the rest of the classes still need to be cleaned up and the furniture put back in place.
The principal, Ruben Raphotle is a worried man.
“The revamping of the school will be completed by May, according to the district office. So we will just have to wait until then, because really there is nothing I can do,” he said.
Some teachers muttered under their breath, saying the school should have been completed last month when schools were closed for the holidays.
Speaking on behalf of the construction company, a man who wanted to be identified as Mr Maroga said that as far as he was concerned, the school’s maintenance completion month was April.
“I do not know about staying at the school until May,” he said.
“We had a slight problem at the end of last year when we came to work here at the school, and that’s why things are a bit delayed,” he said, refusing to give details.