North West learners endure overcrowding while construction of new school halted

The Auditor-General has red-flagged a much-needed school construction project in Ganyesa in North West that was due to be completed almost four years ago, but was halted because of substandard work. The project has already cost more than R12.69-million.  

According to a report by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke on national and provincial audit outcomes for 2022-23 that was tabled in Parliament on 29 November, the construction of Loretlweng Primary School began in December 2016 with a planned completion date of January 2020.

Read more in Daily Maverick: ‘Clean audits on the rise’ — Four graphic takeaways from the Auditor-General’s report 

However, in September 2020, after spending R12.69-million, the North West Department of Public Works and Roads terminated the contract because of poor-quality workmanship.

“No replacement contractor has been appointed and the project has stopped due to ongoing legal proceedings between the contractor and the department,” the report reads.

The AG’s team conducted site visits in March 2022 and June 2023 and observed substandard construction work.

“Walls were collapsing in the same direction because they were not strong enough to resist the wind.”

Read more in Daily Maverick: SA schools still plagued by ‘historical infrastructure backlogs’, overcrowding – Equal Education report 

The report states that significant remedial work will be required, which will increase the costs and further delay the completion of the school.

“As a result, learners in the area are attending overcrowded schools, which negatively affects the quality of learning. We are busy assessing the matter as a possible material irregularity,” the report reads.

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