Education
With reference to the oversight visit to the Phakamisani Primary School where upgrades relating to the asbestos infrastructure were observed:
(1) (a) What was the total amount spent on asbestos upgrades at this school, (b) how many schools in the province were identified as having asbestos infrastructure in the (i) 2024/25 and (ii) 2025/26 financial year, (c) how many of these schools have since been fully addressed, (d) how much did it cost to address the schools in (b) above and (e) how many schools still require intervention to date;
(2) for the 2026/27 financial year, (a) how many schools have been identified for asbestos eradication upgrades, (b) what is the estimated total cost of these projects and (c) what are the planned time frames for their completion?
My department has informed me of the following:
(1) (a) The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) undertook a scheduled maintenance project at this school, that concluded in May 2025. The scope of work included the replacement of asbestos roofing material and rainwater goods to value of approximately R2.5 million.
(b) - (e) The WCED continues to prioritise schools for scheduled maintenance based on their overall condition and focuses on addressing the most critical components of that school to maintain the functionality of the school. If asbestos components are found at a school during the scoping of the scheduled maintenance project, these asbestos components will be addressed and replaced in a compliant manner. It is noted that only broken asbestos components could pose a health and
safety risk, and as such schools are encourages to report any damaged or broken infrastructure via CEMIS to the WCED.
(2) (a) Schools are identified for preventative maintenance and upgrades based on their overall condition, not specifically asbestos components.
(b) N/A
