The City’s recommendation to sell land in Manenberg for the development of a private school has been met with frustration, as the Manenberg School of Skills, an R84-million public project, has stood still for years due to extortion and a lapsed tender.

The school of skills had been brought to a halt in 2022 due to the construction mafia and following a renewed tender that landed in the Western Cape High Court, it is only expected to be completed by next year.

Spokesperson for Infrastructure MEC Tertius Simmers, Melt Botes, said: “I can confirm that the contractor’s site establishment has been completed and works on site have commenced with the current contractual completion date as May 13, 2026."

The private school - The Leadership College, is operated by a non-profit organisation.

The City said the school’s management approached the (City’s) Property Transactions Department for assistance in identifying a suitable site, as it must vacate its current premises on privately-owned land.

Mayco for Economic Growth, James Vos, said: “The department acted swiftly, identifying two well-positioned City-owned properties within one kilometre of the current school site. Recognising the importance of the sustainable, future service offering of the school and the impact it has in the community, the Mayoral Committee recommended that the property be disposed of at 10% of its market value, thereby contributing to the future viability of the school. It gives me great pride that the City is able to play a role in ensuring that The Leadership College can continue its invaluable work in Manenberg.”

They explained the school specialised in Maths and Science education and provides tuition, stationery and uniforms to its 200 primary and high school learners at no cost.

“Despite the socio-economic challenges in the area, The Leadership College consistently delivers outstanding results. In 2024, the matric class achieved an overall pass rate of 93.2%, with 61.6% attaining Bachelors Passes and a total of 60 subject distinctions,” added Vos.

The Cape Argus reached out to The Leadership College via Facebook and their email address but they did not respond to queries and their website is still under construction, when viewed by the newspaper.

When the City was approached for comment on how they would tackle extortion or violence, they said the school was best suited to answer.

Education MEC, David Maynier, welcomed the envisaged sale.

“We hope that this kind of transaction will create an incentive for more investment in independent schools to expand access to education in the Western Cape.”

They said following the mayoral committee recommendation, the report will be tabled for approval at the next Council meeting scheduled for March 27.

Vanessa Le Roux of Parents for Equal Education said they called for the school earmarked in 2022 to be finalised as soon as possible to elevate the backlog of placement.

“I truly hope that this community will stand up and stop the building of this school. This province with the assistance of the WCED, continue to privatise education, pleasing business, at the expense of thousands of poor children that struggle each and every year to get placement in schools, if we allow them to do this, we will end up with a situation where the access to education will only be to those who can afford it.

“Collaboration schools, where the Western Cape is the only province who is doing this, is a perfect example of how many rights are being violated, especially those of teachers, they are not even allowed to belong to a union, and that is something even the department of labour must look in to, but the sale of this land should be stopped, if this is the purpose for it, irrespective of how they want to spin it, this is taxpayers money, government assets and land, that they are literally giving away to business.”

Cape Argus

#westerncape

Controversy as City backs private school while public project faces delays in Manenberg