Joburg’s burnt building crisis could ‘affect matric exams’

Gauteng education department employees, who were evacuated from two buildings in the Johannesburg CBD following a deadly fire in September, have warned that "logistical problems" may lead to disruptions of the matric exams in the province. Almost 800,000 matriculants around the country are writing their final exams, which started on Monday. In total, nine buildings owned by the Gauteng provincial government were evacuated following the fire that engulfed the government-owned Bank of Lisbon building in the Johannesburg CBD in September and claimed the lives of three firefighters. The evacuated buildings failed to meet the minimum requirements for health and safety compliance in accordance with legislation. The education department’s head office staff were evacuated from two buildings which were deemed to be unsafe, leaving 800 staff members in limbo after complaining that newly allocated offices, as far away as Ekurhuleni, were “out of reach”.

Regional leaders of the SA Democra...