H Yawa: Handover function for Atlarelang Primary School

23 May 2006

The Acting Mayor of Maquassi Hills Local Municipality, Honourable Councillor
Sammy Duffy
Head of Department for the Department of Public Works-Mr. Obakeng Mongale
The Regional Director for the Department of Public Works in the Southern
Region-Ms Monnapula-Mazabane
The Acting Regional Director for the Department of Education -Dr. Motara
Government officials
Members of the School Governing Body, the School Manager and staff
The professional team and contractors
Representatives of business and community-based organisations
Councillors and Ward Committee members
Representatives of employee organisations, i.e. SADTU, NAPTOSA and SAOU
Distinguished guests parents and members of the community
Ladies and gentlemen
Boys and girls

I am honoured to be part of this delivery milestone and part of the
celebration of the age of hope. After fifteen months of hard work, this R7,4
million school building project represents the triumph of the human spirit over
the claws of poverty and deprivation.

For far too long, our communities, especially the children of Lebaleng, have
been deprived of their birth right to basic and hygienic infrastructure in
which to receive one of their most important rights: Education.

The denial of this right was not an accident of history, but a deliberate
attack on the dignity of our people by successive apartheid governments. It is
against this attack on our dignity that we have triumphed.

As a department we recognise that education is pivotal in breaking the
vicious cycle of poverty and social exclusion, which is the reality of many
rural communities.

President Thabo Mbeki, in his State of the Nation address in 2003, said that
we must ensure that enough classrooms are built in the shortest possible time
to ensure that no student has to learn under trees or in the open air.

Since the expansion of the definition of the term "under trees" to include
learners who study in mud schools, or under dangerous conditions that expose
learners and educators to the elements, my department has stepped up its
delivery programme to ensure that we meet the expectation of our client, the
Department of Education.

Today represents the celebration of the People's Contract between the North
West Provincial Government represented here by my department, the Department of
Education and the community of Lebaleng.

Last year my department committed itself to denounce business as usual. Our
resolve resulted in improved performance in all areas of service delivery.
Almost all of our targets in as far as project delivery for our clients were
met. This year we have committed ourselves to make a difference in service
delivery.

Making a difference to us means ensuring that all projects are delivered to
the highest quality, within budgets and within the shortest possible timeframe.
To our clients we want to be the service provider of choice. To our people, the
giant on whose shoulders they could stand as we redress the legacy of
deprivation, fight poverty and unemployment.

In making a difference, we have committed ourselves to deliver public
infrastructure of such quality and at such speed that no one can miss to notice
it. As a department we have seen an era of growth and consolidated efforts as a
Department to do good, and our performance in the last financial year speak for
itself.

In the past financial year, we awarded contracts valued at R460, 736 million
to historically disadvantaged individuals. This constituted 92% of contracts
awarded by my department and 260 % increase in black economic empowerment.

Within the framework of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act
and Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Policy, we awarded thirty-four women
contractors contracts to the value of R95,149 million.

The completion of this school building project serves as a demonstration of
government's seriousness and commitment in meeting President Mbeki's call to
ensure that no learner learn under trees.

The site handover to the joint venture partners was on the 30 January 2004.
Despite inclement weather and other historical factors that negatively affect
emerging contractors, BMDM /Basadi Ba Kopane Joint Venture executed and
delivered this project within the 15-months contract period.

The construction of this school did not just ensure that our children in
Lebaleng learn in a decent environment, but also contributed to the alleviation
of poverty in this area, which is one of government's priorities.

R1,1 million was paid in wages throughout the implementation of the project
and 168 job opportunities created for locals. Ninety six of employees who were
employed on the project were youth, 80 were women and 4 were people with
disabilities.

I wish to commend the Directorate Buildings for the role it played in
supporting the joint venture to against all odds successfully execute and
deliver this project.

The professional team led by the principal agent, Naren Mistry Architects cc
and the lead project managers, Tau Pride (Pty) Ltd also need to be commended
for contributing towards quality, sustainable public infrastructure.

We wish to thank the community of Lebaleng for your patience and for
believing in your government to address the infrastructure backlog we have
inherited. Together we have made great strides. Despite the challenges that we
face, the future is brightening daily, giving us new possibilities. Indeed,
yesterday they had nothing to hope and live for, but today things are better
and tomorrow things will even be a lot better.

After 10 years of platooning, the desperation and excitement that drove the
school community to occupy the building before this official handover is well
understood. You are forgiven. Our appeal to you is that you should preserve the
facility for the benefit of generations to come.

I believe Atlarelang means hold tight and preserve.

It is therefore my honour to hand over keys for the school to the Acting
Mayor of the Maquassi, honourable Councillor Sammy Duffy.

Thuto boswa. Atlarelang Thuto.

Ke a leboga.

Issued by: Department of Public Works, North West Provincial
Government
23 May 2006