Anger as construction stops at Merlewood Primary
The multi-million rand project has stalled.
CONSTRUCTION of the new buildings at Merlewood Primary has reportedly ground to a halt, and now angry parents are demanding to know why.
They, together with a group of construction workers, burnt tyres and barred pupils and teachers from entering the school premises yesterday (Wednesday).
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The protesters said they wanted answers from Bright CONSHomes Construction and the Department of Education as to why work had stopped.
One construction worker said they not received payment for some time.
“There is a lack of communication from the company about what is happening with the project. We demand immediate payment for the work we have done,” she said.
The Herald established that no construction had taken place for the last three months and that workers had not been paid since then.
“Because of the delays our children are learning in mobile classrooms, in very uncomfortable conditions. How much longer must our children suffer?” asked one parent.
For many years grave structural defects have jeopardised the health and safety of pupils and teachers at the school.
The crisis was highlighted back in 2004 when classrooms were found to be uninhabitable and many of the prefab classrooms had been damaged by borer infestation.
At a meeting held at the Department of Education, Ugu District office yesterday (Wednesday), Merlewood residents raised concerns which included workers not being paid, construction being stopped and worries that the project would not be completed on time.
The meeting was attended by the school’s governing body, the principal, officials from DOE Ugu District and officials from Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.
Craig Hargreaves, Merlewood’s liaison officer, said that teaching and learning will resume as usual today (Thursday).
“The district office will arrange a meeting with the Department of Education head office to find a resolution to the stand-off. Once this meeting has been conducted a report will be forwarded to the community. We accepted the terms and hope that a solution to all the problems at the school will be found and that construction can start soon.”
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