INFRASTRUCTURAL RESTORATION

Over the last three years our architectural team has compiled and financially quantified the extent of infrastructural restoration needs at each of the nine pilot schools. This costing was overlaid on the IQAA report to identify building priority areas for restoration within each school. What is clear is that in the case of some schools the extent of the work to be undertaken is prohibitive and only essential work can reasonably be undertaken. In some cases the schools were once thriving academic institutions catering to hundreds of students; however, with the demographic shifts that we have seen over the last 20 years, many of the communities surrounding these schools have shrunk and the number of school-going children have diminished. In this context we recognise that some schools will not be able to be restored completely and that buildings that are left unrestored will simply become part of the history tied to these once fine institutions.

There have, however, been some positive interventions during the course of this financial year. Two such interventions took place at St Matthews and Healdtown in the Eastern Cape.

St Matthews, Keiskammahoek

For over two years, St Matthews has been hampered by failing sewerage reticulation and a water supply that has twice closed the school due to an outbreak of dysentery. As reported in last year’s annual report, the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Ms Noxolo Kiviet, gave a grant of R4.5 million to the HSRP to resolve these health issues. During the course of the last six months we have been able to construct a new reservoir and lay piping to the hostels at St Matthews which has effectively resolved the sewerage reticulation problem.

One area of concern remains the borehole water which supplies the school which, when tested, proved to be unfit for human consumption. We are presently awaiting a cost analysis to bring water from a dam at Keiskammahoek directly to the school. While the balance of funding from the Eastern Cape Government will not be sufficient to cover this cost we are fortunate in having funds from both the Amatola Trust and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) that are available to augment this cost. We are grateful to these two institutions for their commitment to making a difference at St Matthews. The Department of Education in the Eastern Cape is also in the process of renovating the hostel accommodation at St Matthews as part of a R19 million tender.

Mr Sipho Majombozi of Amatola Trust addresses attendees at a function at St Matthews.

Holding the presentation cheque from PetroSA are (left to right): Archbishop Ndungane, Eastern Cape Premier Ms Noxolo Kiviet, HSRP Chairperson Justice Thembile Skweyiya and Dr Nompumelelo Siswana, (Acting CEO Of PetroSA).

Healdtown Comprehensive High School, Fort Beaufort

PetroSA saw an opportunity to make an impact at Healdtown Comprehensive High School and donated R2.15 million towards the refurbishment of the ablution facilities at the school and the overhaul of the sewerage reticulation. We are pleased to report that this work has begun and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. One issue that is outstanding is the sewerage treatment plant which can only be installed following a full environmental impact assessment. This process is moving forward slowly but interaction is taking place between the local district municipality and the Eastern Cape Department of Education to bring this issue to finality.

The generosity of PetroSA will have an immense impact on the learners at the school who have been struggling with limited ablution facilities for many years.