Kliptown Primary rebuilding project divides community
The meeting was themed around uniting local communities to protect their interest and attract investors in the Greater Eldorado Park.
The Eldorado Park Steering Committee (EPASCO) described the Kliptown Primary School Rebuilding Project (KRP) as a ticking time bomb due to lack of public participation.
According to the general secretary of EPASCO, Golden Miles Bhudu, the community was angry because the first phase of the project was completed without the knowledge of the public.
He said their main concern was that most projects that are launched without the community’s involvement do not get completed.
On June 28, EPASCO called a meeting to introduce the organisation to various stakeholders and raise awareness about the KRP.
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However, the meeting saw an extremely low attendance with vital stakeholders like the Gauteng Department of Education and the school management team of Kliptown Primary School who are at a better position to engage about the project absent.
Present during the meeting was the Johannesburg District social crime coordinator, Captain Moloko Matshaba, Colonel Ronald Sithebe from Kliptown SAPS, Sergeant N Govender from Eldorado Park SPAS, Kliptown CPF chairperson Mzi Mntungwa, Sibusiso Zwane from Eldorado Park CPF, Edgar Lewis from EPASCO.
According to Bhudu, their intention was to create awareness amongst the immediate and surrounding community members about a multimillion rand project that Kliptown Primary was benefiting from.
The school is expected to roll-out the second phase of the project where it will be demolished and rebuilt to be a state off the art school.
“We have learned from experience that if projects like this are not well communicated, it might be hijacked by hooligans, thugs and what is known as construction mafia,” said Bhudu.
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“The devastating results of the so-called construction mafia can lead to the withdrawal of developmental projects, sometimes long before they start and sometimes the contractor would leave citing safety and security concerns for their workforce, company and property.”
He referenced the multimillion rand Nancefield Primary School building project as one of the uncomplete projects.
He said it was hijacked by the local construction mafias which led to the construction company declaring bankruptcy and abandoned the project, in the process depriving many children who attend classes in mobile classrooms.
He further noted that the same happened with the EXT 5, Sub Power Station.
The meeting was themed around uniting local communities to protect their interest and attract investors in the Greater Eldorado Park.
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Zwane said he was aware of the project from engaging with various schools through the CPF.
The project will, according to Zwane involve communities; including parents of the learners and will accommodate a limited number of labourers.
He further stated that principals were given full power to run and administer the project.
Members of the SAPS raised concerns about poor attendance during the meeting.
It was agreed that the CPF must be the bridge of communication between the SAPS and the community to prevent any criminality in the project.
Soweto Urban contacted the Gauteng Department of Education for a comment, however no comment was received until time of going to press.
