This is despite the construction of the Thuto Ke Lere School which came to a complete standstill. The Head of the Department of Education in the province, Tsoarelo Malakoane, told media present at the construction site that the delays stem from the contentious relationship between the main contractor at the helm of the project, four of the sub-contractors and some community members. It is alleged that one of the sub-contractors is owed close to R3 million for work done on the project. This while Malakoane accused some of these sub-contractors of claiming exorbitant prices and called on them to back up their claims with concrete proof.

He says tomorrow he and some of his senior officials will be back at the site of the Thuto Ke Lere School in a bid to mend the relationship between all the parties. He says they will be looking at the allegations of non-payment in detail.

The Education head says about 90% of the learners at this combined school are expected to come from this poverty-stricken area, parts of which are commonly known as Dinaweng. Malakoane says currently most of the learners living in the area are forced to attend schools in either Loerier Park or Phase 2. He says the parents whose children attend school in Loerier Park have to fork out a lot of money for transport, while those going to school in Phase 2 are forced to walk long distances to school. He called the absence of a school in the area “a service delivery deficit” that the government must remedy.

Malakoane was part of a delegation of high ranking government officials lead by Ntombela, visiting the crime-ridden area on Thursday to address residents’ service delivery concerns as well as the levels of gangsters affecting the community. The delegation included MEC of Police, Roads, and Transport, Sam Mashinini, MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Oupa Khoabane, and MEC of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mathabo Leeto. Ntombela told OFM News the high levels of gangsterism in the area were partly attributed to a lack of education. She stressed that the youth need to be encouraged to attend school and to receive an education.

OFM News/Olebogeng Motse, Lucky Nkuyane, and Katleho Morapela