INFRASTRUCTURAL RESTORATION

We continue to work with our architectural team on remedial work being undertaken at schools falling under the mandate of the Historic Schools Restoration Project. The team also includes professionals located close to the schools who provide support for the HSRP and have kindly agreed to bill at reduced rates for their work.

What remains clear is that in the case of some of the schools the extent of the work to be undertaken is prohibitive and accordingly only essential restoration work can reasonably be undertaken. We remain cognisant of the fact that demographic shifts over the last 20 to 30 years have seen communities around some of the schools diminished with a resultant drop in the learner enrolment at the schools. Practically, some of the schools will only have essential restoration undertaken with the balance of facilities left in their present state.

As reported in last year’s Annual Report two schools were in the process of having remedial work undertaken. The work is not as yet complete, largely through requirements beyond the scope of the HSRP to control or influence.

Healdtown Comprehensive High School, Fort Beaufort

As mentioned in last year’s Annual Report, through funding provided by PetroSA, the ablution block at the school has been renovated completely and is awaiting connection to a new treatment plant. Previously, effluent was running into the river as the old treatment plant was no longer functional. There are two steps that need to be taken in the commissioning of a new sewerage treatment plant. The first step was the signing of a maintenance contract for the new plant by the Eastern Cape Department of Education. Once this had taken place the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) could be completed. At present the EIA is open for public inspection and comment and at the end of August 2012, if no comment has been received, the EIA is forwarded to the relevant authorities for approval. Thereafter the treatment plant can be installed and connected which will bring into operation shower, toilet and bathroom facilities that have up until now been sorely lacking.

In addition, the two newly renovated classrooms are awaiting furnishings and fittings and we are liaising with the Eastern Cape Department of Education in this regard. We remain grateful to PetroSA for their support of the Project and for their generosity in making such a significant difference for the learners attending Healdtown.

During the course of the period under review we received a grant from The National Lotteries Board (NLB) for additional renovation work at Healdtown. The intention is that the Ilanga Building be restored for use in the establishment of a maths, science and technology centre for the school. It is hoped that work on this project can begin following the winter rains and be completed for the 2013 academic year. We appreciate the confidence placed in the HSRP by the NLB and hope that this will be the beginning of a long relationship.

St Matthews, Keiskammahoek

For a number of years, St Matthews has been hampered by a sewerage reticulation system that was old and not coping. Pipes had collapsed and a very real health risk existed, with the school having been closed on two occasions following outbreaks of dysentery. 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 2010 financial year the HSRP contracted for the construction of a new reservoir and the laying of piping to the hostels at St Matthews. This has effectively resolved the sewerage reticulation problem.

The water problem at the school is however not resolved as yet. The boreholes which have historically provided water to the school were tested and found to be producing water that was not fit for human consumption. Various options have been explored, including the installation of water purifiers at the school. However, while this would resolve the immediate problem, it was found that the water table in the area had subsided and in the long term the volume of water would not be sufficient.

We have received the cost analysis to bring water from a dam at Keiskammahoek directly to the school. In the interim, an alternative has been proposed by the Eastern Cape Government which would see the school tapping into existing water reticulation in the immediate area. We are awaiting confirmation on this alternative. It is not clear whether the balance of funds held from the original grant of R4.5m will be sufficient to complete the work, but we are fortunate in having funds from both the Amatola Trust and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) available to augment this cost. We remain grateful to these two institutions for their commitment to making a difference at St Matthews.

The Department of Education in the Eastern Cape, through the Department of Public Works is also in the process of renovating the hostel accommodation at St Matthews as part of a R19 million tender. Regrettably, while work has begun on renovation of the hostels, labour-related issues have brought it to a halt. This has had a significant disruptive effect on the boarders who are presently being housed in the renovated staff accommodation. The newly appointed Superintendent General of the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape, Mr Ngonzo, is presently looking into the cause of the delay and will be pushing for resumption of work at the earliest possible time.

The historic Ilanga Building at Healdtown, which is to be restored to house the Science and Technology Resource Centre.

Much-needed renovation of the girls’ hostel at St Matthews has been delayed by labour issues.

‘Long drop’ toilets at St Matthews which are still in use.