GDE confirms halt of Birch Acres school project

Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed that it has halted the building of a school in Birch Acres.

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Responding to an inquiry from an article published on page 3 of the February 23 edition of the Kempton Express, GDE spokesperson Steven Mabona said the project was terminated due to underperformance by the appointed contractor.

In the article, the DA constituency head for Thembisa South, Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL, said community members raised their frustration that their children struggle to get school admissions, while there is an incomplete school at their disposal that can help ease overcrowding in schools around the area.

“For far too long, we have proposed that the GDE take over the building of schools from the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development and Property Management,” said Nt’sekhe.

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“Failure to complete the construction of schools within the required timelines has resulted in severe overcrowding in schools and some learners being forced to commute to and from school to access quality education.

“This is costing parents more in terms of transport fees,” she said.

“We can confirm that indeed the project is incomplete and was terminated with the appointed contractor due to underperformance,” said Mabona.

In the inquiry to GDE, the Express raised questions regarding the budget of the project, and when the construction was set to start and finish.

It was also questioned whether the department had an idea of when the project might resume and what challenges the previous contractor had in completing the school, however, none of these questions was answered.

Mabona did, however, mention that a tender to complete the project was underway.

“At this point, I may also confirm that necessary processes are underway to appoint a new contractor for the completion of the said school.”

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