Building project halts over safety concerns

Frustrated community members of Ext 8, Vosloorus, brought the Thuto-Lesedi Secondary School (TSS) building project to a standstill, following safety concerns and public exclusion in the project.

This protest action follows after it was revealed that the land is dolomitic.

The community is also not pleased with the construction site, pointing out the foundation was done on top of rocks and the ground was uneven, which could in danger their children a decade later.

They demanded to see proof of documentation of the land survey results and the foundation inspection.
TSS was allocated a budget of R1.4m from the Department of Education for a project to build three new classrooms. This will address the great need for classrooms as some of the learners are being taught outside.

Lihlo Services was awarded the project as a main contractor, which the community says is unknown to them.

They said there is no signage displaying the project information at the construction site. The ward councillor also never called for a public meeting to introduce the project.

On February 1, a meeting was held through a non-political community structure led by the school’s executive committee. Present during the meeting were the chairperson William Mathunjwa, treasurer Samuel Hlelengani, deputy chairperson Tebogo Tsoabisi and secretary Amukelani Mthombeni.

According to the community, Lihlo Services’s appointment was suspicious and dodgy, stating that the advert was published for two days, with no date for the deadline and indicating the required CIBD branding.

During the meeting, Nthabiseng Seritsasane said the former MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, mentioned that the school should work hand-in-hand with the community. However, when they attempt to work with the school they are denied the opportunity.

“We provided the school with our contact details to contact us if anything is happening at the school. We were also not informed about the project that is taking place here,” said Seritsasane.

She said the councillor was supposed to call a public participation meeting as she did with the Wi-Fi installation project.

“When we asked the councillor why she did not call a meeting, she said she was busy and proposed that she meet on February 5. But the foundation is already laid,” he said.

Seritsasane accused the contractor of using what she described as cheap cement.

She said some community members also submitted their bids and were declined. They never received feedback.

“We also heard there is a project while the advert was out for two days. That is why I believe there is something dodgy going on. We are going to ask them to bring all those profiles and inform us about the applied criteria and requirements.”

She said some people have level-four branding in the community and questioned their exclusion.

“They told us that the councillor does not have the right to appoint a CLO. She can only do so on a municipal project, but all of a sudden it was appointed,” she said.

While some community members proposed a rerun of the main contractor appointment, some voiced that it will affect the learners.

Sipho Khumalo suggested the contractor should be removed and reset the whole process.

He said he does not want it to seem like it is about jobs or benefits because the most important thing is the children’s safety.

Other community members said learners needed the classes. The contractor has already spent the budget and the process will further delay the project.

Ward 47 Clr Thandi Nkosi told Kathorus Mail explained that she did not know about the project until the schools reopened.

“The project is not an integrated development planning project by the municipality. The project is for the school and the GoE provided the school and SGB with everything to build three classes,” said Nkosi.

She said her only request was that the school should consider sub-contractors and labourers within the ward.

“It seems the community thinks I have control over the project but those powers were given to the school and SGB because this is not a municipal project.”

Nkosi said the survey the community is complaining about should be addressed by the school and Lihlo Services.

“The school said they trust the contractor. They obtained references from some of the schools that they built, like Masithwalisane Secondary School and Lethulwazi Secondary School.”

On the community’s complaint about the appointment of the CLO, Nkosi noted that the appointment of a CLO is the councillor’s prerogative.

She said she looked for someone who has a business and who will be able to monitor everything.

About public participation, Nkosi shared that they held a meeting with parents at the school.

“I called for a public meeting on February 5 where I will be explaining the project to the whole ward, not just to people in Ext 8 because other people do not know what is happening.”

She said that even if a person from Ext 28 or Mailula is selected to work on the project it is correct because they are part of the ward.

“We do not know how many people will be needed but the CLO will update the community. However, even if we have a lot of people from the same area he cannot take them all. He has to pick from all areas within the ward.”

According to SGB chairperson Moses Gama, a small group of people is in charge, but not necessarily the community.

“It is a group of people who wanted the project to go to them, failing to understand that this is not the municipality.

“The SGB as mandated by the South African School Act is responsible for identifying and appointing the main contractor. We posted the advert at school, on my WhatsApp status and we forwarded it to Kadi FM where we invited community members to apply. We were not calling for a specific ward.”

He said the school is aware that the area is dolomitic because they had a meeting to discuss it, as the recent developments were not part of the initial quotation.

“We informed the community but now they are trying to use that information against us. We appointed someone we trust. They are now finalising the report for residents to get subcontractors and workers.”

When asked about the required criteria, Gama said a company must be registered with all relevant construction bodies and have level four grading, which means you must have previous projects worth between R9 000 to R1m and you must be able to produce the same amount or R2m on your previous financial statement.

“The contractor also must have experience based on previous work, contactable references, compliance with the company registration requirements and be a South African.”

Gama said the project was halted until it is confirmed whether the space is safe for building or not.