The Departments of Transport and Public Works and Education herewithwish to confirm that we are in the process of investigating thepossibility of selling off certain educational and state properties, tomobilise funds to be utilized in the interests of all our communities,especially the poorest of the poor.
Given the growing crisis in school accommodation in the province,especially in Cape Town, and the lack of available funds to acceleratethe school building programme, it is important that Government looks atalternative means of generating funds to build new schools, includingthrough Public-Private partnerships.
The sale of excess and/or underutilized school and education landpresents a real opportunity for our wealthy schools to contribute tobuilding a home for all in this province.
Government will approach this matter in a responsible way. In the longrun, it is not advisable to alienate and sell all available school land.We have to take into account future accommodation needs, especially inareas where new housing developments are to be initiated.
The school land which are referred to, is state property. But weacknowledge that school facilities are managed by school governingbodies (SGB's) and they have a right to participate in decisionsaffecting the utilisation of such facilities.
Government will engage in a process of consultation with SGB's beforearriving at any decision. This process will be respected.
We also call on SGB's of schools with excess land to initiatediscussions among themselves and their communities, and examine thecontinued need for the land at their disposal.
SGB's should perhaps examine and consider alienation and sale of theland. They should also look at providing access to poorer schools tothese sports facilities.
Since former Model-C schools are located in advantaged residentialareas, it follows that the school grounds are inherently more valuablethan those in townships like Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain.
School facilities and school grounds still reflect apartheid educationpolicy conditions that embedded the privilege of these schools ascompared with schools in poorer communities.
Comparatively speaking, wealthy schools are located on land of anaverage of between 8 and10 ha, while those in African and Colouredtownships range between 3 and 4 ha.
Due to the relative value of the land, these wealthy schools "own"potentially high levels of capital. They are able to gain furtheradvantage through this land in several ways, for example:
- developing additional facilities like sports fields, which enable theirlearners to participate in and excel at various sports codes;
- renting of school grounds for various commercial purposes, like thebuilding of film sets, and bazaar or mardi grass shows;
- the high financial returns a school may generate if allowed to sellparts of their land.
The Government wants to make it clear: we applaud the initiatives ofcommunities and school management. But it must be noted that few otherschools are able to initiate the same kind of activities to augmenttheir school finances.
The continued perpetuation of school inequality has the potential ofgenerating widespread discontent among our education communities. Schoolprincipals of poorer schools are already raising this issue with us inour interactions with them.
Therefor this Provincial Government is determined to consider allavailable options, with due care and respect, in pursuit of a people'scontract for a better life for all our communities.
Enquiries:
Chris Prins
Manager: Communication
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 2132
Email: cwprins@pgwc.gov.za
