Court action looms on agri-college

Last month, the Catholic Institute of Education and the Save Our Schools and Community civil organisations in the Eastern Cape took the national and provincial education departments to court, to try to clarify which authority had final responsibility for the functionality of the education system.

The Potchefstroom College of Agriculture - one of 12 such institutions in SA - has direct links with the North West provincial government, and is seen as vital in driving growth in a province where farming is a major sector.

AfriForum Youth on Thursday dismissed claims of the provincial government's commitment to improving the college infrastructure, saying it would now use legal means to obtain the college's financial records.

The group had threatened legal action against the institution in February, alleging that an investigation had uncovered - among other things - loose electrical cables, non-functioning fire extinguishers and alarms, as well as raw sewage.

AfriForum Youth spokesman Ian Cameron said yesterday the conditions were unacceptable "as of last week", posing a health and safety risk to students.

Students blamed for vandalism

North West Premier Thandi Modise said in her state of the province address in February the college was being "refurnished" and the province should ask itself whether "we want to create average facilities of agricultural learning and training" or if the province should aim to be the "best in SA".

AfriForum said despite claims of provincial government efforts "going back years", it had been unable to get answers from the department on how the college, "fully functional" in 2004, had deteriorated so rapidly, said Cameron.

Attempts to discuss the matter with agriculture and rural development MEC Boitumelo Tshwene had also failed, he said

Tshwene had acknowledged the problems at the college at the beginning of last year, but said it was not true that the administration was "dragging its feet", and pointed to vandalism of facilities by students.

Provincial public works, roads and transport spokesman Matshube Mfoloe said yesterday that R16m renovations to a college hostel had begun in February, and were set to be completed by April next year.

General renovations had started in 2007, with R38m being allocated to completed and future projects, he said. Arrangements had been made with the department's Potchefstroom office for maintenance.

Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge