MEC Grant inspects site of Naphakade High School in Malmesbury

30 April 2010

This morning, Western Cape Education Minister, Donald Grant, visited Malmesbury to inspect progress on the site of Naphakade High School.

"I am pleased that there were clear signs of activity at the site of the new school and that we are on track to meet our deadline at the end of May," said Grant.

"Before the mobiles can be put in place the site has to be first secured by a fence and the land levelled. Therefore, we first had to put out to tender a fencing contract for the school. This process was completed last week and fence poles have now been erected," he said.

Grant said that the site sloped significantly more than initially anticipated.

“There is a nine meters fall from North to South across the site; therefore we need to level the land with increased bulk earthworks and embankments to create the required platform for the placement of mobile units and to build the new school".

Grant said that once the fencing and levelling were completed the mobile units would be brought in for construction.

"We expect the process to be near completion by the end of May," he said.

Grant said that it was unprecedented for an entire high school to be established from scratch, including all services such sewerage and electricity, in less than six weeks.

"Officials from the Western Cape Education Department and Public Works have been continuously on site to ensure that progress is made as fast as possible."

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Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
30 April 2010