Speedy emergency repairs to damaged schools | Western Cape Government

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Speedy emergency repairs to damaged schools

7 November 2017

The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) expresses its sincere appreciation to the Education Infrastructure Emergency Maintenance Delivery unit for taking rapid action to ensure that storm damage to schools has been repaired. A total of 172 Western Cape schools were damaged by the severe storm that hit Cape Town in June 2017.

The storm caused broken windows, damaged roofs and significant damage to certain school structures. For safety reasons, the Western Cape Government decided to close all schools for a day so that the situation could be assessed. Some repairs were done immediately, and more complex works took months to complete. The projected cost for these remedial works is approximately R20 million.

DTPW Maintenance Programme Manager, Anthony Trevor-Goode says as soon as the emergency procurement measures were activated, steps were taken to ensure that damaged facilities were made safe. “The various project teams in each region worked well together with the provincial education department to prioritise and execute projects effectively. The teams have done exceptionally well to complete the necessary repairs so that teaching could resume as soon as possible. I am proud of the team for its dedication and swift intervention,” he said.

DTPW’s ongoing education infrastructure and maintenance projects provide high-quality teaching and learning facilities for the people of the Western Cape. The rapid remedial action taken by Chief Director Liam Thiel and his team has helped to protect the provincial government’s work to improve education outcomes and opportunities for youth development in the province.

Media Enquiries: 

Byron la Hoe
Communication Officer
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 9813
Cell: 079 281 8570
Email: byron.lahoe@westerncape.gov.za