POLOKWANE – The municipality has committed to donate land for the establishment of a new school in the Polokwane municipal area.
The process, although described as urgent by the communities affected who want the schools to be built this year still, will take some time yet to be finalised. Residents of Emdo (Ext 29), Lesedi Park (Ext61), Mahlasedi 1 and 2, Mahlako A Phaahla, Rethabile Park 1 and 2 and Ext 123 applied to the municipality’s Directorate of Planning, following discussions in January 2018, to make some land available for a school, community hall and sports grounds.
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They claimed the need for a school is urgent and such should be constructed this year still. Since the establishment of the six residential areas, beginning in 1997 with Ext 29, the area has grown to include Ext 123 next to Mahlasedi Park Phase 1.
There are however, no school facilities in the area, and people have to send their children to town, or to the nearest primary school, which is situated in Ladanna. The community claims that the distance the children have to travel impacts negatively on their learning. The school itself is also filled to capacity in terms of learner numbers.
The Education Department confirmed that both Millenium Combined School and Luthuli Park Combined School are oversubscribed and there was a need for both a primary and a secondary school in the area, and they asked the municipality to assist in providing land.
A letter was sent from the departmental circuit manager confirming the need for both primary and secondary schools in the area.
Land has been set aside for an educational facility within the newly proclaimed area in Extension 107, which is still to be developed, but the land in Extension 108 is central to the six affected areas.
The rezoning was to be done requesting it to be scheduled for the establishment of a combined school.
The Polokwane Municipality’s Directorate for Planning and Environment asked council to approve the donation of erf 20599 in Ext 107 for primary school purposes and erven 23140, 23141 and 23142 in ext 108 for the construction of a secondary school to address the needs of the communities.
The council’s policy is that land may be donated for a school, but the costs regarding subdivision, advertisements, rezoning and the
transfer of land is the responsibility of the organisation it is to be donated to.
The erven are not serviced currently, but there are services in the close proximity to connect to. The Department of Public Works is to apply for the consolidation and rezoning of the erven (ext 108) at own cost.
A town planner must be appointed to lodge a consolidation and rezoning application. If the application is not successful, ownership of the land is returned to the municipality. The land must be used for the intended purpose only, namely erecting building schools.
The department is to submit building plans within 24 months of the council decision and cost related to engineering services are to be borne by the department.
