Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, recently made a turn to the West Coast, visiting various projects including the construction at the Middelpos Primary.
On Thursday 13 April he made an oversight visit to the Saldanha construction site. His department is currently implementing the construction of the school for the Western Cape Education Department.
The local R88 million facility is designed to accommodate 1 860 learners.
Construction, which commenced in September 2021, was scheduled for completion by the end of July 2023. However, progress on site indicates construction is ahead of schedule.
According to Simmers the school’s facilities will include a designated Grade R area, an enclosed hall, administration building as well as classrooms for Grade 1 to 7.
“The progress here further highlights the results that can be yielded through internal collaborations between provincial departments and local government,” he said, sharing his delight with the team on site on receiving the good news.
“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 leave an invaluable legacy for the communities of Middelpos and greater Saldanha.”
On the minister’s West Coast stop he also visited the Cederberg municipal area to hand title deeds over to 152 recipients.
The visit marked the completion of phase 1 of the Citrusdal housing project, where beneficiaries first received their homes in 2019. This outreach was concluded with a public meeting in which Simmers outlined a three-year housing plan for the region.
For beneficiary Catharina Smith (89) the day was unforgettable. “I am utterly grateful to our government and most importantly to God for making sure I lived long enough to see this day,” she said with some emotion.
“This is a wonderful legacy for my great-grandchildren.”
According to Simmers the West Coast visit showcased the provincial government’s commitment to citizens across all ages. “We are committed to serving all our residents, young and old, our local businesses and supporting people with disabilities, because the Western Cape Government is a government for you.”
