Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Over a Billion Spent on South African Schools, Says President Zuma

Jan 16 2014 4:52PM

Over a billion spent on schools: Zuma

The government has spent R1.2 billion upgrading and building schools in the country, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

"To date, we have completed 44 schools in the Eastern Cape and have already started work on a further 160 schools in the province as we continue to replace mud schools," Zuma said in a speech prepared for delivery at the official opening of Ngidini Primary School in the Eastern Cape.

Ngidini Primary School was part of the accelerated school infrastructure delivery initiative to get rid of inappropriate school structures. It sought to provide basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation.

Twenty-five schools would also be built in the Western Cape.

Zuma said the government had delivered water to 203 schools, sanitation to 226 schools, and electricity to 150 schools.

"It pains us to see children being taught in dilapidated schools with no toilets, water or electricity, which is why this will be an ongoing programme to replace all inappropriate schools, no matter how long it takes us to do so.

"Our children deserve only the best. They are our future."

The initiative had created over 6700 jobs in the rural areas.

- Sapa

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