Extensive damage to Queens Park High from recent heavy rains and strong winds was made worse by incomplete maintenance work, says principal Nicolene Abrahams.

Leaks in the school’s 140-year-old roof left many of the upstairs classrooms unusable, and computers had to be cleared from the computer lab because of leaks there, she says.

“Part of the reason for the damages was bad planning on the part of the construction company. The area where the tiles were removed was not properly covered. It was covered with black plastic, due to the strong winds it was pulled open again,” she said.

Teachers had noticed the damage on Monday July 8, but with the heavy rains and howling winds not letting up, construction workers had been unable to venture onto the roof to secure it, she said.

They had needed to combine classes because of the classroom closures, she said.

The scheduled maintenance had been due to start in 2020 but had been delayed by the pandemic and had only started in April last year, she said.

The provincial Department of Infrastructure is responsible for the R13 million maintenance project.

Department spokesman Jandre Bakker said the work on the roof was 90% complete.

“Construction progress has been impacted by adverse weather, specifically the work on the roof. Leaks have occurred on the section of the building that is presently covered by temporary roof coverings as part of the replacement work.”

Department officials had inspected the recent damage to the school, he said.

“The contractor is in the progress of attending to the defects in the interim to mitigate any further damage by ongoing weather events. This work is presently in progress and is being monitored daily.”

Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department had received 335 reports of either wind or rain damage, or disruption to school activities as a result of inaccessible roads over the course of the storms earlier this month.

“Queens Park High School was unfortunately a victim of the storms. The WCED has engaged with the Department of Infrastructure on the repair work and the project going forward. A site inspection was done and remedial action initiated,” she said.

A hole in a ceiling over a stairwell where maintenance work is being done.

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