Cape Town - Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier has lambasted the alleged extortion of a construction contractor in charge of building the Manenberg School of Skills.
In a statement, Maynier said work on building the much-needed school of skills came to a halt at the end of last month when a group of alleged extortionists descended on the site to harass the contractor and his team.
The group allegedly threatened the contractor if it was not awarded a contract to provide security services at the site to protect it from gangs.
It also wanted all contracts for the supply of materials to be awarded to businesses that are under the ownership or control of the group and their associates, according to Maynier.
“The construction of the Manenberg School of Skills is an R84 million project, scheduled to take 87 weeks. Any delay in construction has a direct impact on the community, which is in desperate need of more places for learners in schools of skills,” Maynier said.
“Our government must be allowed to construct schools speedily, unencumbered by illegal extortion practices that compromise the delivery of enough places for learners in our schools."
On Thursday Maynier said he visited the site where the school of skills was under construction.
“Following my visit to the site, I met with a senior SAPS officer at the Manenberg police station, where I provided this information.
“It’s time to stand up to the construction mafia. The number of learners in our schools increases by an average of around 18 000 learners each year. There is also a great need for places in schools of skills, which offer learners hope, dignity and the skills they need to thrive in our economy.”
It’s time to stand up to the “construction mafia” and stop the delays at our school building sites!
— David Maynier (@DavidMaynier) September 29, 2022
Read more here: https://t.co/Nc6mHWNBHS pic.twitter.com/uax38mhVfs
“We need to build 18 to 20 schools or the same number of classrooms each year to ensure that we can deliver quality education to every learner. But we cannot do this when criminal elements put their gain ahead of the needs of our children,” Maynier said.
“We will not be held to ransom by those who seek to exploit public funds and will give police our full support in ending the extortion rackets that plague our building industry. Our children’s futures come first.”
nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za