‘Construction to resume in the new year’

the mountain, and we are worried that the children may be bitten by snakes,” she said. “There are also strong winds, and unbearable heat, all of which is making it very difficult for the children, especially now in exam time” she continued. “The buildings and construction site are a safety hazard for the learners, with exposed electrical wiring, iron rods sticking up, and they do not understand the dangers”.

According to Shadow MEC for Public Works, Vicky Knoetze, the Democratic Alliance has investigated this matter and has been informed that the Department of Public Works has been acting as the implementing agent on behalf of the Department of Education, which has failed to transfer the necessary funds to Public Works.

"At the heart of this issue are poor planning, poor budgeting and fundamental issues in terms of intergovernmental relations. And, while these departments point fingers at each other, the community continues to suffer," concluded Knoetze. In a late development on Tuesday afternoon, Herholdt contacted the Graaff-reinet Advertiser with the news that he had been informed by the Eastern Cape Treasury that the payments to all the consultants had been approved, and should be paid next week.

This is very reassuring news for all involved, and it is hoped that last week’s promises will now be honoured and work can continue in January, to give the communities the facilities they deserve.

Many members of the community of Kroonvale marched to the Department of Education’s district offices in Graaff-reinet on 27 September in protest of the conditions at the two schools, where Cllr Mackelina and PR councillor Daniel Williams handed over a memorandum to Nicky de Bruyn, office manager at the Department of Education’s district office in Graaff-reinet.