Following a protest by school children and their parents, the Western Cape Education Department on Thursday confirmed that Sonderend Primary School in Manenberg will not close.
There were fears that the school would be shut down.
On Wednesday more than 50 pupils from the primary school, members from the school governing body, residents and pupils from surrounding schools protested with placards calling for the school to remain open.
Some of their placards read: “Hands off Sonderend, Don’t need a Hospital and Save our School.”
Members of the SGB reveal over 900 pupils would have been affected at the school which has been in existence for 49 years.
Earlier this month, it had been reported that Sonderend and Silverstream High School would be closed to make room for a new 594-bed regional hospital.
The new facility was due for completion in 10 years, following the closure of the GF Jooste Hospital in 2014.
Former Western Cape Premier Helen Zille previously indicated that the hospital would be built and that four schools in the area would receive a face-lift
“The upgrade includes a 594-bed Regional Hospital; a school’s upgrade that will benefit four primary schools; and a new School of Skills for the Manenberg community and surrounds.
“This infrastructure investment forms part of the long-term vision to transform the urban landscape along central Manenberg into a Youth Lifestyle Campus (YLC),” she said.
UNCERTAINTY: Manenberg parents and children concerned about plans for GF Jooste land
But on Thursday Bronagh Hammond, the Director of Communications for the WCED, said it appears there’s been a huge
misunderstanding.
“After months of engagement with the community and affected principals, it was mutually agreed that Silverstream will not close, but rather be reborn as the School of Skills.
“This shift has already been implemented at the current site and the agreed plan is to relocate this SOS to a brand-new premises at the old GF Jooste site, when the land it is currently on is required for the new Klipfontein Regional Hospital.
“There is also no plan to close Sonderend Primary School and as per community suggestions, it too is to be relocated to a brand-new building, in an enlarged premises.”
But Sadia Daniels, a member of the Sonderend SGB, says: “We were told that the children would be moved to Edendale Primary school, but there is already over 50 to 60 children in a class.
“There has been no involvement from the community or SGB about decisions.”