A new primary school is set to be built in Humansdorp through a partnership between the Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust, the Kouga Local Municipality and the Eastern Cape department of education.
The school will be located on a 6.5ha portion of a 23ha site in Boskloof, chosen both for its educational potential and environmental considerations.
The initiative was sparked by a request from the education department and aims to create a modern, sustainable learning environment that includes sports fields and other facilities, guided by a new alternative school design model.
At the same time, the endangered vegetation of the site will be preserved.
The Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust is driving the project.
The trust’s general manager, Prince Matonsi, said he and his team were excited about the project’s potential.
“The plan is to use 6.5ha of the 23ha site to build the new primary school, together with sports fields and other facilities,” Matonsi said.
“At the core of this development, is the intentional partnership that has arisen between the Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust and the Kouga municipality to bring about sustainable and environmentally friendly developments which are aimed at uplifting the standard of living and education for local communities.
“The request from the Eastern Cape department of education for a new primary school in Humansdorp provided an essential opportunity for all three partners to undertake a long-lasting, impactful initiative with multiple benefits.”
Matonsi said the trust had previously invested extensive effort in developing an alternative school model to the one currently used for the construction of public schools.
This new model informed the minimum size of the site needed for a benchmark development.
He said because the Boskloof erf was partially located on Humansdorp shale renosterveld, the trust had commissioned extensive specialist studies to understand all the conservation issues and mitigate any problems.
“Based on these studies, it became clear that there were many areas of the site heavily infested with alien invasive species, which parts were therefore appropriate for the construction of the school.
“Further to this, the remaining part of the property will be rehabilitated and integrated into the school’s conservation and environmental protection efforts.”
He said the much-needed restoration of the unique vegetation required extensive resources that would otherwise be required from the municipality and its residents.
“Given that reality, the bold move to anchor these restorative efforts around a catalytic school project has become a priority for all partners.
“The project will ensure restoration and protection of this endangered vegetation in Boskloof, and the municipality will be able to redirect scarce resources to other much-needed service delivery areas.”
Matonsi said the environmental impact assessment was being reviewed by the provincial environment department and it was anticipated that authorisation would be handed down on August 25.
“We have already gone out to tender so if everything goes smoothly, construction will begin at end-August.
“The aim is to complete the job by March next year and newly enrolled kids will start in prefabricated classrooms until everything is done.”
Humansdorp shale renosterveld is a type of fynbos found only in a small pocket of the Kouga municipality — and nowhere else in the world.
It is home to several highly threatened species, including the critically endangered black harrier raptor.
Education department Humansdorp circuit head Sandile Zamisa welcomed the project.
“It is a game changer. The existing school infrastructure in this circuit was built about 30 years ago, to cater for a much smaller number of learners than are enrolled today,” Zamisa said.
“This is placing a huge strain on learners and teachers. This initiative must therefore be embraced by Humansdorp communities.”
Kouga mayor Hattingh Bornman hailed the project.
“The integration of environmental restoration with much-needed infrastructure development is a bold and progressive step towards sustainable community upliftment,” Bornman said.
“This initiative exemplifies the power of partnerships — where government, the private sector and civil society come together to deliver real impact.
“The Kouga Local Municipality is proud to support this project because it addresses educational needs and also safeguards and rehabilitates our region’s unique biodiversity.
“By aligning development with ecological stewardship, we are laying the groundwork for a resilient, educated and environmentally conscious future for Kouga.
“Moreover, the project has the potential to create valuable employment opportunities for local residents and stimulate economic growth in Humansdorp through job creation in both the construction and environmental sectors.”
The Herald
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