Contractors responsible for School built in sewage could face criminal charges

A school constructed on a sewage land has drawn the attention of Gauteng legislature.

Gauteng legislature considered taking to court those behind the construction of a multi-million Tembisa school in the centre of reeking sewage area.

Over R82 million was spent on the school’s construction.

Gauteng legislature plans to criminally charge the provincial department of infrastructure development and property management (IDPM) and a contractor for building the “death trap”.

The bad nature of the school was discovered when the legislature’s portfolio committee on IDPM and education visited the school to assess the standard and quality of the work done by contractors.

They were welcomed with flowing raw, smelly sewage at the entrance.

The school is yet to be occupied three years after its construction.

The chairperson for the portfolio committee on IDPM Mpho Modise said “the multimillion-rand school – which was supposed to be occupied in 2017 – stands as a white elephant after the department failed to obtain an occupancy certificate due to the dangerous conditions in which the school was built.”

The school was also constructed in contravention of the National Building Regulations and Building Standard Act 103, 1997, as amended.

The committee also stated that the school could be a death trap for pupils and teachers as the wetland could weaken the building and later collapse.

The structure was not good for the eyes as it had several lapses which includes collapsed ceilings, cracking tiles and walls, as well as flooded water around the school as it remained unoccupied for three years.

During a joint meeting with the legislatures portfolio committees on IDPM and education it considered going to court on this matter.

They agreed to send a letter to Gauteng Premier, David Makhura to launch an investigation into this case which can further lead to disciplinary actions against the officials responsible for the construction project.

The committee said if disciplinary actions are not taken, it would send a wrong message that the province lacks accountability and management.