The provincial department of education appointed a management consortium for the project in September 2025, according to an appointment letter signed by superintendent-general Lengane Bogatsu.
Contract Value Versus Estimated Delivery Cost
However, parents, staff members, community leaders, and people associated with the project claim that painting and re-roofing 13 classrooms used largely existing materials with little new building work. Project community liaison officer Plakie Buchere stated that the delivered work does not amount to more than R1.5 million excluding labour, adding that not a single inspection of the scope and quality of work delivered was conducted.
The school accommodates about 600 pupils and was built in the 1960s. It comprises three blocks—one with five classrooms and two with four classrooms each—alongside an administration block and an inclusive education facility serving pupils with special needs. A school hall turned into two classrooms is severely damaged and was excluded from the renovations. Parents concerned about the condition of the school stopped sending their children to classes in July 2025 due to safety fears.
Scope of Work and Financial Breakdown
Although the appointment schedule identifies four classroom blocks comprising 17 classrooms alongside administration and Grade R facilities, information obtained by The Citizen shows that three main classroom blocks were renovated, totaling 13 classrooms.
Renovations began on 8 August 2025 and ended on 31 May 2026.
Did You Know? Seshupo Primary School was originally built in the 1960s and comprises three main classroom blocks, an administration block, and an inclusive education facility, with parts of the building having been damaged by a storm in 2019.
Community Concerns Over Quality and Safety
Community leader and former school governing body chair Mpho Gaediwe noted that the community had raised concerns about the condition of the buildings even before the 2019 storm. According to Gaediwe, the department issued a tender for renovations rather than building a new structure, resulting in window panes, doors, electrical fittings, and roof repairs alongside painting. Concerns include damaged roofs repaired using existing material and walls painted after filling cracks, some of which are already reappearing.
More serious concerns involve two classrooms in the five-classroom block that allegedly lack proper foundations. One worker described a wall as wobbling during work. Gaediwe stated that the walls of the two classrooms have no foundation, with the contractor filling gaps with mortar and painting them, describing the situation as a disaster waiting to happen and a grand heist. Department spokesperson Elias Malindi did not respond to questions regarding the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total value of the Seshupo Primary School renovation contract?
The contract was valued at R16.2 million, which includes a 10% management fee and value-added tax (VAT).
When did the renovation work take place?
Renovations began on 8 August 2025 and ended on 31 May 2026.
How many classrooms were actually renovated?
While the appointment schedule identified four classroom blocks comprising 17 classrooms, information obtained by The Citizen shows that three main classroom blocks totaling 13 classrooms were renovated.
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