Construction work at Gauteng school nears completion

Construction work of a brick and mortar classroom block and ablution facilities at Inkululeko Yesizwe Primary School in Vlakfontein near Lawley, Gauteng, are nearing completion.

The R1.5m project, constructed by Corobrik’s Lawley factory, goes towards fulfilling the duty required by government that all mining corporations get involved in the development of the local community.

“We find a lot of joy in doing this work. It is a costly job but it is so appreciated by the local community that we are proud to have accomplished what we have,” said Lawley factory manager, Andreas Ntseki.

He explained that the school was made up of entirely prefabricated classrooms which were in a state of severe disrepair. “The buildings are suspended on stands and some of the classrooms had holes in the floor which was extremely dangerous for the learners. This meant that some of the children had to be taught outside.”

The 186m² buildings were constructed using two of Corobrik’s face bricks - the Montana Travertine and Nebraska Travertine.

Low maintenance

“The Montana Travertine is a red and blue brick which was used for the bottom of the buildings so as not to show dirt,” explained Ntseki. “The Nebraska Travertine is a yellow or cream brick and was used from the windows upwards. The two colours worked really well together to provide lively contrast that will stand the test of time and assure a lifetime of low maintenance.

“While clay bricks are extremely durable, clay brick wall construction is well proven for providing the most thermally efficient classroom environments, this so important for aiding learner concentration,” he said.

The school’s principal, Ndifelani Mamphoto, said the staff and learners were ecstatic with the newly-constructed facilities.

“The classrooms are being used by Grades 4 to 7, and we started using the classrooms before they were even fully completed. That is how desperate we are for classes,” explained Mamphoto. “It is the only brick and mortar building we have; the rest are prefabricated classes and they often collapse which means we must get the children out of the classroom and teach elsewhere. The brick structures have much more integrity."