Upgrades at high school can finally get underway with new contractor
After years of delays, overcrowding and growing concerns over deteriorating infrastructure, the Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that a contractor has finally been appointed to begin the long-awaited rehabilitation.
A contractor has finally been appointed for the long-awaited rehabilitation project at the ageing Hoërskool Silverton in the east of Pretoria.
This is according to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), following years of delays and mounting concerns over deteriorating infrastructure and learner safety.
The school on De Boulevard Street in Silverton has, for several years, faced serious infrastructure challenges, including structural damage, cracked walls, broken windows, rusted steel balustrades, deteriorating concrete, and ceilings reportedly at risk of collapse.
Concerns over the condition of the school have persisted since at least 2019, when the school allegedly informed the GDE that parts of the second floor were at risk of collapsing.
Despite this, rehabilitation work did not materialise for years.
The GDE previously indicated that the school would undergo upgrades between September 2024 and then moved the upgrades to May 2025, but nothing materialised then.
Despite the announcement of the rehabilitation plans, there appeared to be no visible construction work underway at the school, raising concerns among parents and residents over possible delays and the continued safety risks facing learners.
The high school was originally designed to accommodate around 800 learners, but in 2024, it reportedly had more than 1 000 learners enrolled, further placing pressure on the deteriorating infrastructure and leading to overcrowding.
Last year, the GDE told Rekord that the planned rehabilitation project includes the replacement of roof sheets, ceilings, roof structures, and floor coverings, as well as repairs to damaged concrete structures and walls.
The refurbishments had initially been scheduled to commence during the final quarter of the 2024 financial year, but the project failed to get underway at the time.
GDE spokesperson Onwabile Lubhelwana has now confirmed that a contractor has been appointed for the project.
“The Gauteng Department of Education can confirm that a contractor has been appointed for the project. However, it requires that the learners be moved from the school into the decanting classes,” said Lubhelwana.
He explained that while the contractor is preparing the temporary decanting site, the school had allegedly already started relocating learners to the temporary classrooms. This was done without authorisation from the project team or the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, which is the implementing agent for the project.
Lubhelwana added that the contractual completion date for the rehabilitation project is currently set for January 19, 2028.
“Although timelines may still be revised due to the ongoing developments around the decanting process,” he said.
He confirmed that 30 mobile classrooms have already been delivered to the school, while an additional 13 classrooms are expected to be delivered to help address overcrowding during the rehabilitation period.
He said the rehabilitation project is expected to provide long-awaited relief to learners and staff who have endured deteriorating conditions for years.
Also Read: Silverton school up for renovation next year
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