The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) is failing the learners of Nancefield Primary School by not providing a proper environment for learning and teaching to take place. For the last five years, GDID has failed to complete the renovations to this primary school.
During a recent oversight inspection of the school by the GDID portfolio committee, it was discovered that the window frames are rusted, and the grass is overgrown, a telling tale of a project long abandoned.
As of September 2024, the project limps along at merely 50% completion, a far cry from the bustling educational hub envisioned five years ago. The financial toll is equally alarming, with R68 million already spent from an initial budget of R120 million, leaving taxpayers to wonder where their money has gone and there is nothing to show for it.
The Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) ambitious plan to provide a state-of-the-art learning facility for the community’s children has been bogged down by delays, budget overruns, and interdepartmental confusion. While the GDE oversees the project, the responsibility for construction lies with the GDID, a division of labour that has resulted in a lack of accountability and progress.
The original contractor, Clear Choice Builders, abandoned the site in 2020. GDID them terminated the contract due to non-performance. The initial assessment of the project suggests that a further R87 million is needed to complete the project. This amount might increase depending on what the new contractor SMC will find when taking over. SMC promises completion by September 2025, but given the project’s history and the Department’s record , there is little optimism with further delays and budget overruns almost a given.
In the meantime, the school’s learners are forced to use mobile classrooms in an open field. Even this stopgap solution is precarious, with frequent threats of repossession due to the department’s failure to pay contractors promptly. The ripple effects of this mismanagement extend beyond the school grounds.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands that GDID and GDE align their efforts and prioritise the completion of this vital project. The children of Eldorado Park and surrounding areas deserve safe, stable, and conducive learning environments. It’s high time their needs are met with the urgency and competence they deserve.
A DA government will immediately ensure that all contractors that are appointed are capable to complete the infrastructure projects. Furthermore, we will also blacklist all contractors who fail to complete projects on time, within budget, and contractors who abandon projects.