New primary school for Macassar learners

On 22 December 2023, the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) completed Phase 1 of a R107m project to replace the old Macassar Primary prefabricated school with a brand-new, extra-extra large (XXL) primary school on the site. Despite delays caused by continual theft, community unrest, and building-related challenges, the Department is still on track to complete the project by June 2024.

Because the old school had inadequate facilities and insufficient learner capacity, the Western Cape Department of Education asked DOI to build a replacement school with enough space for learning, sports, and other extra-mural activities for 1 860 learners. When it is complete, the new school will include 42 classrooms, 2 science laboratories, 2 multi-media centres, and administration block, a school hall, 3 physical training slabs and a sports field.

In addition to the new school facilities, members of the Macassar community are also benefitting from job creation and skills development opportunities for the duration of the project.

“A total of 60 jobs and 35 training opportunities were created through this project thus far. The Department has allocated R7.8m to local labour, achieving 245% of the EPWP [Expanded Public Works Programme] target on this project,” said Danie Swarts, Construction Project Manager at DOI.

A further R23m was spent on local subcontractors and R5.4m on local suppliers and manufacturers.

“The principal objective of the project was to deliver a simple, comfortable, pragmatic and economically viable project with the lowest maintenance costs possible as the project site is located 2.3km from the seashore,” he added.

There are plans for the development of social housing on a site adjacent to the new extra-large primary school. It is expected that many learners will be living there in the future and attending Macassar Primary School.