BUGERSFORT – A PROJECT worth R4 million to construct and refurbish classrooms at Itsuseng Primary School in Mafarafara near Burgersfort has been on hold since January.
Department of education Bogwasha circuit admin officer for infrastructure, Justice Ntshwane said the bricks had been delivered to the construction site, but he did not know why construction had not started.
Circuit manager, Setadi Makotanyane said they had not received any feedback from the department’s provincial officer, although they had sent several enquiries to them in this regard. “The department did not give us details, all they said was that the project was experiencing financial problems,” Makotanyane said.
Meanwhile local residents who thought they were going to escape poverty as they believed the contractor was going to recruit locally, were still waiting. School governing body member, Stephelina Maphakge said locals often asked her about the progress of the project as they were eager to work.
CV visited Itsuseng Primary School and can confirm that there were not enough classrooms to accommodate all the learners.
One of the teachers, Petrus Thobejane, said conditions at the school were bad and the school had been built by community members many years ago.
Education spokesperson, Paena Galane, said he did not know about the problems at Itsuseng Primary School. “I will speak to the relevant people in the department as well as the department of public works, and give feedback on the matter,” Galane said.
