Quality school has R17m but no land in Mthatha

"We are trying to help but the government is not assisting us"

By ZINE GEORGE

Education Reporter

AN MTHATHA-based foundation is on the brink of losing over R17 million donation earmarked for a state-of-the-art school because it is battling to find land for the structure.

Saleem van Staaden, of the Mthatha Muslim Foundation, said the organisation secured more than R17m four years ago to build a "school of excellence" which will focus mainly on teaching maths and science.

Although there is land zoned for institutional development near Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Fort Gale, its owners, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), have not decided whether to sell it to the foundation or not.

At least three applications have been submitted to the ECDC in the past four years for the land purchase, but without success.

Van Staaden said he was afraid the funders might take their money to another country if it was not used.

The matter was brought to the attention of the Daily Dispatch a day after the Public Service Accountability Monitor released a report saying the Eastern Cape Education Department was in need of R15 billion to roll back its infrastructure backlog.

Van Staaden said over 90 percent of business people in Mthatha and environs were forced to send their children to East London, Durban, Ugie, Maclear and Elliot as there were very few "quality" schools in the area.

"There is Vela and Mthatha High School, which is not enough for the whole Mthatha and surroundings. But even (with) these two schools you cannot compare them with your Stirling (and) Clarendon in East London.

"We are trying to help but the government is not assisting us. How do we speed up this process?" asked Van Staaden.

The organisation, through their sister partner - the World Assembly of Muslim Youth Charity Organisation - secured the funds from a Saudi Arabian non-governmental organisation.

According to the plan, the facility would accommodate 650 pupils, 300 of whom will be boarders.

He said the school will not cater exclusively for the "rich" and Muslims.

"Our plan is to enable even a child from Pola Park (an informal settlement in Mthatha), who is not a Muslim or Christian but highly capable academically to get better education," said Van Staaden.

In order to avoid forfeiting the funds, the foundation engaged King Sabatha Dalindyebo Municipality mayor, De La Ray Mkhatshwa, two weeks ago.

Mkhatshwa confirmed to the Daily Dispatch yesterday that the foundation had visited him to ask for his intervention. However, he said, the land was owned by ECDC, not the municipality.

"We are going to investigate why there are such delays but we will have to follow certain procedures," said Mkhatshwa.

The Economic Affairs and Tourism Department spokesperson Joe Jordan could not be reached for comment yesterday.