Massive increase in New Schools as National Strategic Infrastructure Program pumps R750m into Western Cape

The Western Cape has been entrusted with the very first project in the National government`s massive strategic infrastructure program.

In addition to the annual budget allocation of approximately R770m for educational infrastructure, National Education has made available a further R750m in terms of the "Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative". Thus the total educational infrastructure expenditure for the 3 financial years 2012/13 to 2014/15 will exceed R3 billion.

This is a massive boost for the Western Cape economy,

Since this administration took office in 2009, Public Works has increased its output by 80%. We are now going to more than double our output.

Western Cape school building program takes off:-

In the financial years 2002 to March 2009, 46 schools were built at an average of 6 per year.

In our first three years in office, we have delivered 37 schools at an average of 12 per year, doubling the previous administrations outputs.

In the next three years we will build 81 schools at an average of 27 a year, thus doubling our output yet again.

Graph representing schools built and closed since 2002/2003

Benefit to learners:-

In the last two years to the end of this financial year, school accommodation will have been provided for 57000 new learners, and old and inadequate schools will have been replaced providing upgraded accommodation for 36000 existing learners.

Thus a total of 93000 learners will have benefitted by the school building program, which is a truly outstanding achievement.

 All of the schools have been delivered on time and on budget.

Benefit to the community and the economy

Over the next three years approximately 20000 jobs will be created in the building of these schools, of which 6000 will be youth and 3000 will be women.

HDI`s will benefit by at least R100m.

Public Works is gearing up to double its educational infrastructure outputs.

This would be a massive challenge for even the biggest contractors in SA, but it is one I am satisfied that Public Works can meet.

To meet the challenge, Public Works has developed a Construction Procurement Strategy to decide on the appropriate Procurement Arrangements for the various packages. The key decisions to be made include:

Deciding on a procurement procedure

Deciding on a targeted procurement strategy

Deciding on a tender evaluation procedure

Procurement arrangements will comply with the Standard for a Construction Procurement System and the Standard for an infrastructure Delivery Management System.

I am extremely proud of the incredible productivity increases achieved by our Public Works Branch under the driving leadership of Gary Fisher and Thando Mguli known as "Mr Second to None".

The photograph attached of a completed school is courtesy of the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works.

Statement issued by Robin Carlisle, Media Liaison Officer. Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, July 27 2012

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