New hope for Nancefield Primary School as fresh start signals progress

In a bid to provide quality education and safer learning environments for South African children, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development embarked on a crucial project to replace an aging asbestos school with a modern brick-and-mortar structure at Nancefield Primary School in Eldorado Park. However, the project faced a major setback in January 2022, as the initial contractor was terminated for nonperformance, leading to delays in the completion timeline.

The Nancefield Primary School replacement project was initially scheduled for completion on 1 October 2022. Unfortunately, the appointed contractor failed to meet this target, with the project’s progress standing at only 50% at the time of termination. This delay not only affected the project timeline but also raised concerns about the safety and learning conditions for the students and staff at the school.

To address this issue, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development entrusted the Professional Service Provider (PSP) with the crucial task of preparing procurement documentation for a completion contract. However, the PSP failed to perform these duties within a reasonable timeframe, which further compounded the project’s challenges. Additionally, the PSP encountered other contract breaches, leading to the termination of their agreement with the department in June 2022.

To get the project back on track, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development took the necessary steps to rectify the situation. In July 2022, new Professional Service Providers (PSPs) were appointed, signaling a renewed commitment to the Nancefield Primary School project.

The current PSPs have made significant progress, having submitted the third revision of the condition assessment and procurement documentation to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) in October 2023. This marks a promising development in the project’s journey, as it moves closer to the procurement phase. Once GDE approves the documentation, the department will initiate the procurement process to secure a new contractor who will take over and complete the project.

While the project faced considerable setbacks due to nonperformance and contractual issues with both the original contractor and the PSP, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development remains steadfast in its commitment to providing a safe and conducive learning environment for the students at Nancefield Primary School.

The new PSPs, with their comprehensive revision of condition assessments and procurement documentation, have demonstrated their dedication to seeing the project through to its successful completion. As the procurement process is set to commence, the department is optimistic about finding a capable contractor who can deliver the project on time and within budget.