The Eastern Cape department of public works has set aside R7.5-billion to rebuild more than 44 damaged schools in the province, equip a newly renovated East London public hospital and revamp the dilapidated Butterworth swimming pool.
These details are contained in a report tabled before the Phumulo Masualle-led provincial cabinet on Wednesday.
Part of the report reveals that the education department, which received R1.2-billion of the amount, “has already approved the construction of the 44 schools”.
The schools include Ngubesizwe Senior Secondary in the Mthatha district, Voorpos Primary School in East London and St Cuthberts Senior Secondary in Qumbu, as well as Elliotdale Technical School in Dutywa, to mention but a few.
Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo also confirmed yesterday that the state would pump millions into refurbishing the Butterworth swimming pool.
The Dispatch reported on the poor state of the pool back in 2014. The pool, which produced world-class swimmers during the KD Matanzima era, is now a dumpsite for construction companies to dump rubble, and so overgrown with trees that it is a haven for criminals.
Other departments to receive a cut include:
- R1.7-billion for the education department to construct 44 schools, some of which were damaged by natural disasters in recent years. Another 33 damaged schools are currently under review to establish whether they are a priority, the report reads;
- R2.1-billion for roads and public works to build and resurface rural roads; and
- R1.4-billion for the department of health.
Kupelo said health would be given R700-million of its budget to buy state-of-the-art medical equipment for the new Cecilia Makiwane hospital.
The hospital project, which cost taxpayers more than R1-billion, was launched in 2008.
It houses a nursing college, an administration block, a workers village, a doctors block and internal roads. The hospital is expected to start operations before the end of the year.
Kupelo said public works “is currently implementing provincial infrastructure projects worth R2.1-billion”.
The Dispatch reported in March on how national treasury took back more than R500-million set aside for building new schools after the education department failed to use the grant as required by law.
This was despite the department battling to replace more than 300 unsafe schools due to a lack of funding.
Kupelo said provincial treasury was busy assisting the education department with plans for the rollout of the infrastructure project to ensure that the non-expenditure blunder did not occur again.
“This financial year, a total of 80 schools have already been earmarked with estimates having been submitted earlier this month. Of the 80 schools, 44 architects have already been briefed. Another 533 schools are being assessed for the next financial year,” said Kupelo. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
R7.5bn boost for schools, hospital, swimming pool
These details are contained in a report tabled before the Phumulo Masualle-led provincial cabinet on Wednesday.
Part of the report reveals that the education department, which received R1.2-billion of the amount, “has already approved the construction of the 44 schools”.
The schools include Ngubesizwe Senior Secondary in the Mthatha district, Voorpos Primary School in East London and St Cuthberts Senior Secondary in Qumbu, as well as Elliotdale Technical School in Dutywa, to mention but a few.
Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo also confirmed yesterday that the state would pump millions into refurbishing the Butterworth swimming pool.
The Dispatch reported on the poor state of the pool back in 2014. The pool, which produced world-class swimmers during the KD Matanzima era, is now a dumpsite for construction companies to dump rubble, and so overgrown with trees that it is a haven for criminals.
Other departments to receive a cut include:
Kupelo said health would be given R700-million of its budget to buy state-of-the-art medical equipment for the new Cecilia Makiwane hospital.
The hospital project, which cost taxpayers more than R1-billion, was launched in 2008.
It houses a nursing college, an administration block, a workers village, a doctors block and internal roads. The hospital is expected to start operations before the end of the year.
Kupelo said public works “is currently implementing provincial infrastructure projects worth R2.1-billion”.
The Dispatch reported in March on how national treasury took back more than R500-million set aside for building new schools after the education department failed to use the grant as required by law.
This was despite the department battling to replace more than 300 unsafe schools due to a lack of funding.
Kupelo said provincial treasury was busy assisting the education department with plans for the rollout of the infrastructure project to ensure that the non-expenditure blunder did not occur again.
“This financial year, a total of 80 schools have already been earmarked with estimates having been submitted earlier this month. Of the 80 schools, 44 architects have already been briefed. Another 533 schools are being assessed for the next financial year,” said Kupelo. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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