On Thursday 13 April, the Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, conducted an oversight visit to the Saldanha Primary School construction site. The Department of Infrastructure is tasked with implementing the construction of the school for its sister department, the Western Cape Education Department. The R88 million facility is designed to accommodate 1 860 learners.
Construction at this site commenced in September 2021 and was scheduled for completion by the end of July 2023. However, the progress on site indicates that construction is ahead of schedule. Its facilities will include a designated Grade R area, an enclosed hall, an administration building, and classrooms for Grades 1 to 7.
Minister Simmers shared his delight with the team on site upon receiving the good news and said: “The progress here further highlights the results that can be yielded through internal collaborations between provincial departments and local government. As we seek to intensify public and private sector partnerships, for the benefit of the communities we serve. In this project, a significant percentage of the budget was allocated to local Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). This state-of-the-art facility will not only benefit the learners but will leave an invaluable legacy for the communities of Middelpos and greater Saldanha.”
The Minister also visited Citrusdal, where he delivered 152 title deeds. This marked the completion of phase 1 in the Citrusdal housing project in which beneficiaries first received their houses in 2019. The Citrusdal outreach was concluded with a public meeting in which the Minister outlined a 3-year housing plan for the region.
Title deed beneficiary Catharina Smith (89) expressed her gratitude: “I am utterly grateful to our government and most importantly to God for making sure I live long enough to see this day. This is a gift to my great-grandchildren.”
Minister Simmers concluded by saying: “The visit to the West Coast showcased the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) approach to ensure we serve and give hope to citizens across all ages. We are committed to serving all our residents young and old, our local businesses and supporting persons with disabilities because the WCG is a government for you.”
