It had been synonymous with sand mining, bodies, dumping and a hide out for criminals, but soon it will be a beacon of hope for hundreds of Tafelsig children.
Situated on the corners of Kilimanjaro and Rockies streets the new school neighbours Perseverance Primary School.
Ward 82 councillor, Washiela Harris, says while this is a provincial government initiative, she has continued oversight over the project and is happy to see positive progress thus far.
Known as a rapid school project, the building of an admin block, ablution facilities and first few classrooms are set to be complete next month, with intake of Grade 8 in the second term. Construction started in January.
“You would have criminals standing in the holes from the sandmining. So deep that they did not need to bend down to be hidden. This is a dangerous area and because it is provincial property, I had to email to ask what was happening and when it would happen to make people feel safer.”
Traffic concern
With another school entrance in the same street, Harris says she had concerns about traffic management, but there is a plan to mitigate congestion.
With seven primary schools in Tafelsig accommodating around 1 300 learners each, there are only three established high schools, making this the fourth.
Harris says local children struggle to get placed in Tafelsig, with around 70% of children at Paramount High School from outside the area.
Paramount is a school established around two years ago.
“Our school kids, their lives were in danger because they were being victimised to become gangsters on this field. Because it was a big open field. And it was used for dumping, dead dogs and bodies. And, they would literally burn their copper. Residents would come to complain because they were worried their houses would catch alight. “
Harris says the general workers are all from Tafelsig, including the community liaison officer. All the recruitment was done by the contractors.
The school is set to have staggered intake with FET phase added as the years progress.
The provincial education department had not commented by the time of going to print. More detailed information on the school will be published in an upcoming edition.
