As the 2025 academic year commence in Gauteng today, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Infrastructure Development & Property Management is calling on the Department of Infrastructure Development to fast track the completion of school infrastructure projects to address the growing issue of overcrowding in Gauteng schools.
This comes after high pressure areas in the Province are experiencing an intake of high number of learners and this urgent action is critical to ensuring that learners are provided with conducive and safe learning environments.
The increasing demand for quality education in Gauteng has placed immense pressure on existing infrastructure and delayed school construction and refurbishment projects have exacerbated the problem.
The Committee is in possession of a list of schools which should have been completed by now and handed over to communities to alleviate overcrowding in certain areas, but they remain incomplete which the Committee views as unacceptable as it robs leaners of the opportunities they deserve.
To address this, the Committee urges the Department of Infrastructure Development to implement effective project management systems to ensure that all infrastructure projects are completed on time, within budget and the required quality standards.
The Committee calls for decisive action against Project Managers responsible for delays in school infrastructure projects.
Where negligence, corruption or inefficiencies are identified, swift and firm action must be taken to hold those responsible accountable. This will send a strong message that delays in the completion and delivery of critical infrastructure projects will not be tolerated in Gauteng.
The Committee recognizes that there are some areas where efforts have already been made by the Department of Infrastructure Development, but stresses that the pace of progress must improve significantly.
Learners and educators cannot wait any longer for the completion of much needed school infrastructure projects such as Rust Ter Vaal Secondary School, New Simunye Secondary School, Thubelihle Secondary School, Ditau Primary School and many other projects across the Province which the Committee has previously visited.
The Committee will use the list it has of incomplete school infrastructure projects to monitor their progress and hold the Department accountable particularly on timelines, standard of work done and allocated budgets to ensure that Gauteng learners are given conducive learning environments and allowing them access to quality education.
ISSUED BY GPL’S MEDIA SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, HONOURABLE THULANI NDLOVU
