The Department of Education recently awarded a contract of over R170-million to the Independent Development Trust for the implementation of a secondary school project in the Eastern Cape.  

The project, which entails the construction of a dormitory, dining halls, kitchen and laundry room and related infrastructure at the Ntsonkotha Senior Secondary School in Lady Frere, is part of the 18 schools that the IDT will complete in the next two years in the Eastern Cape alone.

“This is testament to our capability to implement social infrastructure projects on behalf of the government and deliver them within scope, quality and on time,” said the CEO of the IDT, Coceko Pakade following the announcement.

Work on the project will start in September 2017 and is expected to last 3 years. During the period about 600 jobs opportunities will be targeted, 200 of which will be for women the IDT said. Once completed the school’s boarding facilities will accommodate 712 learners.

Supporting self sufficiency

“Through this project the IDT continues to make a significant contribution to the government’s development initiatives and to expand its capability to facilitate the much needed development programmes within communities,” Pakade said.

He added that the IDT implements its projects through social facilitation with the communities, which enhances self-reliance at a community level and helps prepare communities to receive, participate in, own and sustain their development.