A momentous influx of R73.3 million is set to revitalise the rural community of Mbulwane, situated within the Alfred Duma Municipality in Ladysmith.
This monumental development was officially unveiled by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Mbali Frazer, who introduced the contracted construction team to the Mbulwane community on Tuesday, 12 September 2023.
She presided over the formal handover of the construction site for the state of the art Sindingulwazi Primary School, a project valued at R73.3 million.
The KZN Department of Education has provided insights into the multifaceted construction project, which spans three distinct phases:
Phase 1A: The initial phase entails a comprehensive renovation of the existing school, currently comprising 12 Park home classrooms (equivalent to 20 classes), two Grade R classes, 10 portable chemical girls’ toilets, five portable chemical boys’ toilets, a Park home teacher’s ablution facility, and a carport designed to accommodate 16 vehicles.
Phase 1B: Subsequent to Phase 1A, the construction of a new school is set in motion. This phase includes the erection of 28 standard classrooms, three multipurpose classrooms, a media centre, a computer classroom, 14 girls’ toilets, 12 boys’ toilets/urinals, one disabled toilet, a 10-meter elevated pressed steel water tank (with a 48-hour storage capacity), Jo-Jo water tanks, civil engineering services, and temporary fencing.
Phase 2A: This stage involves the complete demolition of the existing school structures, which encompass 5 grade R classrooms, one team teaching classroom, one administrative block, a counselling suite, a general storeroom, a gatehouse, a School Nutrition Programme Kitchen, and six teachers’ toilets.
Phase 2B: Complementing Phase 2A, this segment includes an additional disabled toilet, six Grade R toilets, one staff toilet, 39 parking bays, a new perimeter fence, and Grade R playground facilities.
Phase 2C: Concluding the construction, this phase comprises nine parking bays, an 862 meter concrete assembly area, a playfield measuring 65×35 meters, electrical engineering services, and general landscaping with grassing.
Moreover, MEC Frazer, during her announcement, disclosed that the estimated construction period for this expansive project spans 20 months, with a scheduled completion date in May 2025. She emphasised the critical importance of ensuring that the local community reaps the benefits of this initiative, stressing the involvement of emerging local contractors and the employment of local residents.
“It is important for us to make sure that local people do benefit from projects that are implemented in their area. Emerging local contractors must benefit from this project and local people must be employed,” said MEC Frazer.
Additionally, the MEC appealed to the community to play an active role in safeguarding the project and ensuring minimal disruptions throughout its execution.
With this getting underway, what are your thoughts on this? We invite you to share your views and opinions in the comment section below.
