Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) is currently working on a R13.4 million preventative maintenance project at Muizenberg High School in the Cape Metro South District. The project is expected to be complete in May 2022. The project aimed to improve the school’s appearance and create a physical environment that is conducive to teachers wanting to teach and learners wanting to learn. This infrastructure investment seeks to improve educational outcomes and do necessary maintenance, especially components with a condition grading below C3. (The rating system is as follows: C1=very poor; C2=poor; C3=fair; C4=good and C5=excellent.)
The project was made possible by special Provincial Treasury grant to enhance safety at schools and to create employment to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19-related economic downturn. The project created seven short-term Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employment and skills training opportunities and an overall total of 50 jobs.
A major challenge came halfway through the project when a new occupational health and safety regulation was passed to disallow work on items manufactured of asbestos. This prompted the team to replace the entire roof instead of servicing it. Many hours of work went into adding this element to the scope of works, and the work required close cooperation with the school in order to ensure the school remained functional while the roof was being replaced.