Note to Editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Khathutshelo Rasilingwane MPL.
Lotus Gardens Secondary School learners in Tshwane are being taught in dilapidated classrooms with leaking roofs, damaged ceilings, and non-functioning toilets due to the delays by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) in fixing the school.
The project that commenced in 2022 was meant to be completed by now. However, in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) questions regarding the rehabilitation of Lotus Gardens Secondary School, the MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, stated that the construction would be completed within 16 months and that they would monitor the progress.
See the reply here.
While the DA notes the reported timeline and the commitment to monitor this project, we cannot ignore that the DID has failed to complete projects on time and within budget.
Learners are at the losing end of the stick as they have to endure being taught in an environment that is not conducive and severely impacts the delivery of quality education.
This is one of many projects by DID that have been delayed and negatively affected the delivery of services to communities across the province.
The DA is committed to ensuring that Lotus Gardens Secondary School’s rehabilitation will not follow the same old pattern. We will monitor the progress closely to ensure proper management and oversight are applied to meet the deadline.
The DA will submit follow-up questions to determine the “new measures” mentioned by the MEC in the reply and set to be enforced on contractors, PSPs, and departmental officials staff to ensure that they conform to schedules, costs, and quality work.
Only a DA government can provide Gauteng residents with cost-effective infrastructure projects. Where we govern, schools are built quickly and efficiently to ensure learners have access to a conducive environment for quality education.
We are committed to rescuing the learners of Lotus Gardens Secondary and all those bearing the brunt of poor infrastructure in our province.