In a matter of minutes, several hundred metres of concrete palisade fencing was reduced to rubble, all for a tiny piece of metal.
The excitement surrounding a long-awaited project which finally came to fruition at Athwood Primary School was muddied by the remnants of concrete palisades scattered across pavements, fields, lanes and informal roads around the school.
Recently, contractors began replacing the boundary fence – made of concrete palisades – of the school with clear-view fencing.
Ward 48 councillor Zahid Badroodien says while the replacement of fencing at schools and other facilities is common, he has never come across this before.
Blomvlei Neighbourhood Watch chair Sadeeka Valentine says it started as soon as the contractors began the project.
“When the contractors started here at the school I saw some guys take the poles off,” she says, pointing to a pile of concrete chips outside Soetwater Court.
“You can see here how it looks.”
Valentine refers to residents from the area.
“It took them around 20 minutes per pole to dismantle it and get the piece of metal. That is how desperate they are for that piece of metal. The entire string of fencing has been removed, and they tried to do it further down the road as well, but I blocked them. The contractors are scared, because they are being attacked. Every time we see messages on our neighbourhood watch group appealing for police and help, because the contractor can’t manage.”
Valentine confirms this is a hotspot.
“They have used these stones to block the road so police can’t get in here,” she says.
Along the perimeter, the new fencing has been erected behind the concrete fencing.
Badroodien says he has been in contact with the school principal about the rubble following several complaints.
“Residents brought this to my attentions, that the school is in the process of replacing the concrete palisade fence to clear-view fencing, which was very exciting for me because one of the first conversations I had with the principal was about the fence that was going to come to the school, and finally what he had been waiting for for a long time is here.
“At the same time these palisades have metal strips inside the concrete, and this is what some residents have been chipping away at to get to the metal to take to the scrapyard. What frustrates residents is that this concrete debris now lies around the area on the pavements and in the informal road, which prevents safety services, such as the police, from quickly getting into the community.”
People’s Post contacted the school, which directed its inquiry to the Western Cape Education Department.
Millicent Merton, department spokesperson, confirms the fencing project commenced earlier this year.
“The contractual milestone date for commencement was 31 January and the contractual milestone date for completion is Tuesday 2 May.
“This school was identified to receive a new perimeter fence as its existing perimeter fence was not providing effective perimeter security.”
Badroodien says he always had a good relationship with the school management and has liaised with the school since the concerns were brought to his attention.
“I have engaged with the principal on this. He has indicated he has spoken to the department of public works and spoken to the contractor as well, that when the concrete is removed from the location, it must be taken away immediately so people do not have the opportunity to steal and strip for the metal inside.
“Unfortunately, it does not seem that has gone as smoothly as it should have. Some of the concrete poles still lie around in the streets and some are stored inside the school. I trust the school is liaising with the departments, but unfortunately, we have this debris which I believe the City may potentially have to attend to as building rubble dumping in our area.”
Merton says there is no prescribed method of disposal in these matters. “There is no departmental waste/rubble disposal process. Contractually, the material removed is the property of the contractor and is to be removed and disposed of by the contractor,” she says.
“The contractual scope of work includes dismantling and removal of the existing precast reinforced concrete palisade fence. Construction works are ongoing. Good ‘housekeeping’ may involve collecting all components of the existing precast reinforced concrete palisade fence that was removed in one place as opposed to leaving the components along the boundary.
“Components of the existing precast reinforced concrete palisade fence removed should temporarily be stored inside, and not outside, the school’s perimeter fence prior to such being disposed of. All components of the existing precast reinforced concrete palisade fence that was removed should be disposed of once the new perimeter fence installation is complete.”
Merton says the department will engage with the contractors to “temporarily collect and store the existing precast reinforced concrete palisade fence that has been removed, in one central location, inside the school’s perimeter fence, prior to it being disposed of.”
