Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane together with the MECs for Infrastructure Development (DID), Qedani Mahlangu and Education (GDE), Barbara Creecy officially opened Magaliesburg Secondary School in Ga Mohale today.
“Magaliesburg Secondary School, is a turnkey project constructed in under seven months with a budget of R56 million, the school will accommodate 1000 learners. The neighbouring Magaliesburg Boarding Facility is a Gauteng Flagship Project, designed to house 240 underprivileged and orphaned rural learners, supporting both their educational and socio-physical needs. This project has suffered delays in completion but the Gauteng Provincial Government has put in place mitigating interventions to ensure that this facility is completed by September 2014,” said Premier Mokonyane.
According to MEC Mahlangu, “The Department of Infrastructure Development has a zero tolerance approach to project overruns, inferior workmanship and substandard contractors. Once project milestones were not reached, my team met with Moreteng Investments and initiated a recovery plan. However it became clear that the contractor did not have the capacity to complete the project. The contractor was then terminated in accordance with the contract and the completion contractor, Clear Choice CC was appointed.”
“DID and GDE entered into a payment fast tracking arrangement. Weekly technical meetings were held to attend to project delays and a dedicated DID project manager was deployed to site, we are now confident that the Boarding Facility will be ready in September 2014," added MEC Mahlangu.
Mr Tebogo Phiti, principal of Magaliesburg Secondary School said, “We have been given the wonderful gift of a world class learning institute, this coupled with the neighbouring Boarding Facility will enhance the quality of education for the rural child. Our indigent learners will be housed in a secure facility eliminating long walks and be given the opportunity and resources to focus on their academic pursuits”.
Speaking at the opening, MEC Creecy elaborated on the Gauteng Provincial Governments challenges and plans for the future, “Gauteng Province is experiencing the highest in-migration of learners in South Africa. The Gauteng Provincial Government has set aside R694.1 million towards the planning and construction of new schools in 2014/15. A further R540.3 million has been allocated towards the rehabilitation of schools in the Province. We have built 141 new schools since 2009, with the number of schools increasing from 1 970 in 2009 to 2 070 in 2014. We look forward to delivering greener more efficient educational facilities in Gauteng”.
The Magaliesburg Boarding Facility and Magaliesburg Secondary School projects have trained and skilled 260 indigent community members during the course project. This can be disaggregated into 52 females, 187 men, 152 youths and 4 persons with disabilities.
For enquiries contact:
Ramona Baijnath
MEC Mahlangu’s Spokesperson
Cell: 076 942 3419
E-mail: ramona.baijnath@gauteng.gov.za
Thebe Mohatle, Premier’s Spokesperson
Cell: 082 373 1146
