Picture: Dilapidating Mothelesi Primary School in Shaleng/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
23 June 2026 – There is growing concern regarding infrastructure deficiencies at Mothelesi Primary School in Shaleng village, near Taung. The poor safety conditions were found to be detrimental to teaching and learning at the school.
The School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson, Sinah Gaoagwe raised concerns and highlighted the urgent need for attention to school infrastructure. According to Gaoagwe, the situation at Mothelesi Primary School hinders learners and teachers’ effectiveness in teaching and learning.
“As the SGB chairperson at the school, I can attest that the building is dilapidating. So, I am seeking any advice on how to deal with this matter. The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi promised to build a new school.
“However, there is no commitment letter nor timeframe for that. So, I would like to know if the school buildings should plunge learners before the department can respond? It is heart-wrenching to see this happening. However, the minute we embark on a protest, they will call the police on us,” she said.
However, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has welcomed the significant progress achieved in the construction of the proposed replacement schools for Shaleng Secondary and Mothelesi Primary Schools in Shaleng village, near Taung. In 2024, Motsumi visited the area to assess and monitor the condition of schools within the community.
“Following our inspection, I expressed concern about the state of the existing school infrastructure and emphasised the urgent need to prioritise the community for the construction of new schools. So, as a result of this commitment, construction preparations commenced in September 2024, when Cochrane Construction erected a ClearVu security fence around the project site.
“The fencing project was successfully completed on 9 December 2024, marking an important milestone and signalling the beginning of the long-awaited school replacement project for the community,” she said.
Motsumi further said this project forms part of the department’s ongoing commitment to improving educational infrastructure and providing learners with safe, modern and quality learning environments that support teaching and learning. She added that her department appointed the Independent Development Trust (IDT) as the implementing agent to oversee the planning and implementation of the project.
“In turn, the IDT appointed a professional team to undertake the necessary planning, investigations and design work required for the development. The project has successfully progressed through the needs assessment and feasibility stages.
“During the feasibility process, geotechnical investigations established that the hard shale underlying the proposed development site is underlain by dolomitic formations. To ensure the suitability and safety of the site, a detailed dolomite assessment was commissioned,” said Motsumi.
She said the study, which was reviewed and approved by the Council for Geoscience, concluded that the underlying dolomite does not pose a risk to the proposed development. Motsumi said based on these findings, the department approved the project as feasible and subsequently approved the Site Development Plan.
“The appointed professional team has also completed the Concept Design Stage, which is currently under review by the department. Once this review process has been concluded, the project will proceed to the Detailed Design Stage.
“The Detailed Design Stage is expected to take approximately five months to complete and will culminate in the preparation of construction tender documentation. The current project programme anticipates the milestones such as Completion of Detailed Design in October 2026,” she said.
Motsumi said Finalisation of Tender Documentation will be in November 2026. She said this will include Advertisement of Construction Tender in January 2027, and Appointment of Contractor in March 2027. She reaffirmed the department’s commitment to improving learning and teaching conditions for learners in Shaleng village and ensuring that the new school facilities provide a safe, conducive and modern learning environment for future generations.
“We are encouraged by the steady progress being made towards the delivery of this important school infrastructure project. The successful completion of the feasibility studies, including the specialised dolomite investigation, provides assurance that the proposed site is suitable for development and that the project can proceed with confidence.
“This replacement school will not only provide modern facilities for learners and educators but will also contribute towards restoring the dignity of education in the Shaleng community. We remain committed to ensuring that the project moves through the remaining planning and procurement stages as efficiently as possible so that construction can commence and the community can begin to realise the benefits of this investment,” said Motsumi.
She thanked the professional team, the IDT, the Council for Geoscience and all stakeholders involved in advancing the project through the planning stages. Motsumi said the department remains committed to keeping the community informed as the project progresses towards construction and eventual completion.
The Guardian 