Ballito and Shaka’s Head still without a public high school

Did the Department of Education (DOE) relinquish a prime piece of land in Mt Richmore, proposed for the building of a much-needed government high school, back to the commercial developers who then went on to build a private school?

According to KwaDukuza (KDM) municipality spokesperson, Sipho Mkhize, this is the case.

Mkhize confirmed the land was earmarked by the municipality more than 10 years ago as a potential site for a public high school.

This came about as a result of KDM imposing conditions when it granted its approval for the proposed Mt Richmore development.

The condition of approval imposed on the developers was that site ERF 990 (now part of the Salt Rock shopping centre) be handed over to the department of public works for the building of a high school.

However, this did not materialise as the DOE deemed the piece of land too small to build a high school. The site was 3.07 hectares.

In 2009 the site was transferred to the DOE. However, the land sat undeveloped for more than two years and Mt Richmore developers reportedly approached the DOE with a request to take back ERF 990 as they were interested in developing it.

The transfer was approved in 2011 and the developers went on to swap the sites around and developed a private school and the Salt Rock shopping centre.

Whether any money changed hands could not be established at the time of going to press.

The South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 sets national minimum standards for school infrastructure and recommends site sizes as follows: for schools sharing their sports facility with the community the suggested area required is 1.4 hectares for a primary school and 2.6 hectares for a high school.

Primary schools that need sports fields require 2.8 to 4 hectares, with 4.8 to six hectares for secondary schools.

The document states that because of each provinces’ unique circumstances some of the values may vary and takes into account the design and layout of the building that would be used, if a single or double storey building is anticipated and whether the school will be in a rural or urban area.

The greater Dolphin Coast area has a desperate shortage of government high schools.

Ballito is considered one of fastest growing towns in South Africa and the existing primary schools are bursting at the seams with no feeder high school to address their needs.

The provincial department of education said last year they had plans to build 10 schools along the coastal belt but the main stumbling block was finding suitable land.

Ilembe education director Dr Madondo said he could not give a timeline as to when these schools would be built, only confirming that provincial officials had inspected the area and confirmed that the schools must be built.

Plans by DOE to build a high school on the land opposite Sheffield Manors in 2006 were halted when the land owners, KDM, refused to sell it to the DOE.

The land is currently in the early stages of preparation for a low cost housing development. Mkhize said DOE did not have the authority to propose the site for a high school.

“The feasibilty study went ahead without KDM’s approval. Our response to the DOE was simple. They already had two pieces of land belonging to them in Salt Rock and Ballito, both zoned for education purposes so they were advised to use those sites, “ Mkhize said.

The question that needs to be answered is what is being done to find suitable land for a government high school for the greater Ballito and Shaka’s Head areas?

At the time of going to print the Department of Education had not replied to the Courier’s request for comment.

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