Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

02/06/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/06/2026 05:39

UPDATE ON WALMER HIGH SCHOOL PROTEST AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality acknowledges today's protest in Walmer led by parents and learners regarding overcrowding at the local high school. We recognise the seriousness of the concerns raised. The reported enrolment of approximately 2 487 learners, against a norm of about 1 050, places significant pressure on infrastructure and learning conditions. This is a matter that directly affects the dignity, safety, and quality of education of our children.

A multi-stakeholder meeting was convened this morning at 10:00 involving the Municipality, the Department of Education, the School Governing Body, parents, and community leaders. The purpose of the meeting was to clarify facts, present the Municipality's planning position, and agree on a coordinated way forward.

The Municipality confirmed that a long-term solution already exists within the approved spatial layout for Walmer. Erf 11305 has been earmarked as a school site. As part of activating this plan, the City will submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application to the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism during the week of 16 February 2026. Once submitted, the statutory review process is expected to take approximately six to ten months.

To ensure transparency and accountability, it was agreed that monthly technical meetings will be convened to track the progress of the EIA and related planning steps.

While the long-term plan is underway, the community has requested urgent exploration of a temporary alternative site for the erection of temporary school structures. Although space exists within the current school yard for approximately ten temporary units, community leadership has expressed a preference for a separate interim site.

The meeting agreed on the establishment of a 10-member monitoring team representing stakeholders. This team will oversee both the short-term interventions and the long-term development plan to ensure continuous communication and oversight.

The Municipality has undertaken to urgently investigate the feasibility of identifying a temporary site. A feedback session has been scheduled for tomorrow, 06 February 2026, where the City will report back on available options and the council processes that must be followed to implement any temporary solution.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality remains committed to working collaboratively with the Department of Education and the community to address overcrowding in a practical and responsible manner. The City recognises that education infrastructure is essential social infrastructure, and solutions must balance urgency with lawful planning processes.

Further updates will be communicated following the outcome of tomorrow's engagement.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality published this content on February 06, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 06, 2026 at 11:39 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]