New primary school in Lwandle to open soon despite delays in the construction

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25-01-2024
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News 24
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• The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has changed its tune regarding the opening of a new primary school in Lwandle after it experienced some delays in the construction of the school.
• Initially, the department indicated the school would start operating at the beginning of the 2024 academic year.
• According to officials, challenges with the construction company have caused some delays, forcing the department to prolong the project.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has changed its tune regarding the opening of a new primary school in Lwandle after it experienced some delays in the construction of the school.

Initially, the department indicated the school would start operating at the beginning of the 2024 academic year (“R65 million school being built in Lwandle expected to open for new academic year”, City Vision, 13 July 2023).

However, with schools reopening on Wednesday 17 January, this was not the case.

According to officials, challenges with the construction company have caused some delays, forcing the department to prolong the project.   

WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says the Lwandle Primary School project was back on track following disruptions at the site. “The contractor did not meet their obligations, which delayed the project,” she says. “But a new contractor has been appointed and work resumed at the end of last year. In addition to the delay caused by the contractor replacement, the new contractor experienced delays owing to extortion from the community over jobs, preventing work from taking place on the site. But thankfully, work resumed late last year.”

According to Hammond, eight classrooms will be completed for this year, with further expansion as new grades are phased in. 

“The completion date is expected to be at the end of February,” she states. 

Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso confirmed the school’s construction was in progress and that it would be built in phases.

The school will have a total of 30 classrooms.

Diniso says the construction benefited the community in many ways. “This is a huge investment for our community. At the same time, some local businesspeople and the community at large got jobs during the construction,” he said.