Driehoek pupils to resume classes today after parts of building declared safe

GRADE 12 pupils at Hoërskool Driehoek are expected to resume their classes today after the Department of Labour declared some sections of the building safe to use.

The department released a structural assessment report on the building yesterday and gave the school approval to use the administration block, the hall, gymnasium and a block of classes.

Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said it had a meeting with parents yesterday .

“On Wednesday, the Grade 12s will resume classes on a lower scale; they won’t be doing all subjects. The Grade 11s will resume tomorrow and other grades will be back on Monday.

“There will be temporary structures to accommodate the pupils,” Mabona said.

A walkway at the Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, school collapsed on Friday and resulted in the deaths of four pupils. Many others were injured.

Engineers from the Department of Labour went to the school on Saturday to do a structural assessment to establish what sections of the school were safe to use so a decision could be made on when classes at the school could resume.

Mabona said investigations into what led to the collapse of the walkway were still continuing.

At least 20 pupils were still in hospital and Mabona said the department was in talks with families of the deceased pupils to see what assistance it could offer.