IDT to provide quality infrastructure for Eastern Cape schools

The Independent Development Trust is set to commence work to build and refurbish 13 schools on sites across the Eastern Cape as part of the government’s Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI). Tenders for the school projects were advertised last year and the evaluation is at an advanced stage, with some of the projects awaiting site hand over instruction from the clients — the provincial Department of Education, national Department of Basic Education and the Department of Public Works.

The IDT is implementing the programme – which comprises a number of projects of various sizes in terms of scope of work and project value – on behalf of the government as part of the ASIDI programme, which was initiated by the government in an effort to eradicate the backlog in school infrastructure. The initiative also aims to provide school infrastructure that is supplied with basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity in order to create a conducive environment for learning and teaching, and schools constructed from inappropriate material — including mud and asbestos — are being replaced through the programme.

St Thomas Junior Secondary and Edward Zibi Senior Secondary schools, both located at Mt Fletcher, and Luphindo Senior Secondary School in Maluti, will be equipped with new administration blocks, science blocks, multi-purpose blocks, dining and nutrition centres, media centres and at least 14 classrooms, a reception room with toilets and two toilet blocks for learners. On both projects, the site works include provision for rainwater harvesting, parking areas, paving, retaining walls, ramps, stairs and related bulk earthworks.

Other schools included in the IDT contract of the programme are Prospect Junior Secondary School in Maluti, Magadla Senior Secondary School, also in Maluti, Mgomanzi Senior Primary, Stanford Senior Secondary, Hlankomo Junior Primary, Lingelethu Junior Primary and Ntukayi Senior Secondary – all in Mbizana as well as Cabane Junior Secondary in Mt Frere and Butterworth High in Butterworth.

All new buildings to have full electrical installation and electrical installations are refurbished on existing buildings.  In the past five years the IDT supported 40 government departments including building 97 new schools and 36 new health facilities while renovating hundreds more and created more than 360 000 work opportunities in various communities through its implementation of social infrastructure programmes and the Expanded Public Works Programme.

Enquiries: Lesego Mashigo, Cell: 073 883 0662, Email: lesegoma@idt.org.za