​Gauteng Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee led DID Education Projects site visits around Westrand.
 
By Masego Nyamate & Sabelo Shiule
03November 2023
 
On the 27 of October 2023, the Chairperson of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Infrastructure Development and Property Management, Honourable Mpho Modise led the oversight visits at various DID Education Projects in Westrand. The purpose of the visits was to assess the condition and status of the works done by DID on the facilities and to check the progress and the cause of stoppages and delays on these projects. 
The visits commenced at Relebogile Secondary School where the team assessed a sinkhole which developed directly under an existing ablution of the school and the impact it has left. The rehabilitation of the sinkhole project is to restore the integrity of the school buildings by ensuring that the construction of the school complies with dolomite land requirements and the preparation of the Dolomitic Risk Management system for the school.
The team proceeded to the new Simunye Secondary School which is a full ICT Smart school and will cater for 1200 learners once complete. The department is doing everything possible to deliver the project hence the department manages the project in-line with the clauses of the contract.
The last site visit was conducted at Randfontein Secondary School which is the Execution of Asbestos Replacement school and will cater for 1441 learners. The school was originally a full asbestos school and there are brick and mortar buildings that were constructed as additional facilities to meet enrollments demands. In an effort to comply with minimum Norms and Standards, this school has been included in the programme of eradicating schools entirely, that are built of inappropriate materials. 
The Portfolio Committee held a roundtable meeting with DID and the Department of Education to get an update on the projects visited and come up with solutions to speedy the process for completion of these projects.