Parents of children attending Portlands Primary School in Mitchells Plain picketed outside the school this morning. They accused the school and the Western Cape Education Department of endangering their children’s lives, claiming the infrastructure of the school is in a neglected state.

The gates of the school were kept locked while the school principal and the SGB (School Governing Body) held a meeting in order to address the parent’s concerns. Parent’s requested that journalists be allowed access to the school grounds in order to film and photograph the damaged infrastructure. The school did not respond to the request for media access.

Shanaaz Mohamed, who has a child attending Portlands Primary, said the school is falling apart and she has been forced to keep her child at home. She said there’s a whole section of the school where the stairs and flooring is broken.

Mrs Eleanor Braaf, the principal of the school, came out to address parents after inspection of the damage with representatives of the Western Cape Education Department. Braaf said temporary structures would be set up and children moved out of this area while repair work takes place. Braaf made the announcement in the presence of Western Cape Education Department management.