Plans to move Rotara School gathering speed

Plans to move Rotara School from Watersedge to a site in Carletonville are gathering momentum. According to Mr Mekiah Mugonda of Simmek Projects, which is handling the public participation process on behalf of the Department of Education, the process to move this school for disabled children is currently going well. A public participation meeting was held last month and many residents voiced their opinions about the project. “The biggest issue raised was that the plans have to make provision for the Rotalia Adult Centre to be moved to the new site as well,” Mugonda told the Herald this week. Rotalia also addressed a formal request to the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development in this regard. Rotara and Rotalia have had a close relationship for decades as both deal with the disabled and have, up to now, been next-door-neighbours. Other concerns that were raised were the possible noise pollution and the potential invasion of the privacy of residents of the area. “Many people support the construction of the school. These pupils are part of the community and the project will benefit the area to which it is going to move,” observed Mr Carlos Rebelo, the

councillor of the school’s new locality. According to the plans, the new site to which the school will be moved is 8,5 ha in size and is situated on the open piece of ground to the west of the road from Onyx Drive to the P111. Mugonda said the draft report on public input, so far, will be available within the next two weeks. Those who want more information on where they can view it or still want to comment on the issue can contact Mugonda at 076 942 1724.