By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Sipho Hlomuka has praised the recent infrastructure upgrades at Vimbukhalo Primary as a testament to what is possible when communities, local leadership and government departments work in unison.
Addressing stakeholders during a visit to Begville, Hlomuka expressed his satisfaction with the progress made in delivering what he described as “a state-of-the-art, learner-focused facility”, noting that the new infrastructure signified a shift towards equitable development.
“This school is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to prioritising education even in our most remote areas. Despite earlier challenges, we are close to handing over a facility that meets all the basic standards of quality learning,” he said.
Hlomuka was conducting an oversight visit to the school as part of the department’s ongoing Operation Siyahlola monitoring and accountability programme.
Located in a remote part of the province, the school had previously relied on temporary park homes as classrooms, with its few permanent structures declared unsafe and unsuitable for learning and teaching.
The visit marked a significant moment for the school and the surrounding community, who gathered in large numbers to witness the transformation of their educational facility.
Vimbukhalo now boasts 11 classrooms, including two Grade R facilities.
Additional amenities include a dedicated counselling suite, a sick room, a storage room, a communications room, a fully equipped school nutrition kitchen, an administrative block, and a guardhouse.
The school’s sanitation facilities have also seen a significant upgrade, with 16 learner toilets, five for educators, four for Grade R pupils, and one for learners with disabilities, in addition to a designated waste disposal area.
The entire project was completed at an estimated cost of R73,689.61, a budget the MEC praised as both “efficiently allocated and responsibly managed”.
While the infrastructure is nearly ready for occupation, Hlomuka noted the final outstanding step was the procurement and delivery of school furniture, which he confirmed was being expedited.
“We are working to ensure that learners move into these facilities as soon as possible. The space is ready; now we must make it usable,” he said.
He urged the local community to take ownership of the school and protect it from vandalism or neglect.
“This is your investment. We call on the parents, the learners, the School Governing Body and community leaders to safeguard it for future generations,” he added.
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