SCHOOL NEWS - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will not be conducting a public participation process for the school building project in Stander Street in Denvar Park.

The municipality's head of communications, Chantèl Edwards, confirmed that the building plans for the school, on Erf 6979 opposite the Genevafontein Retirement Village, had been approved in December. 

"The property has been zoned for a place of instruction since the establishment of the neighbourhood, and the proposed school development is aligned with the approved land use rights of the property."

She said the building plan approval process related to compliance with the applicable zoning scheme, planning legislation and building regulations, and that no statutory public participation process formed part of it.

According to the WCED's head of communications, Bronagh Hammond, the plans comply with the zoning rights on the property, which allow for the development of a school. "If this property did not have the required zoning rights, we would be required to undertake public participation. The WCED is, however, acting within existing development rights for the property," she said.

Bronagh responded to the concerns of some residents in the vicinity about certain aspects of the development, such as the impact on traffic. She said while public participation is not required, there will be stakeholder engagements with the community.

"We cannot confirm at this stage when the stakeholder engagements will take place or when construction will start."

The department previously said the new school forms part of its rapid school building programme, and that the opening target is 2027.

There is a huge need for high schools in George as the number of learners being accommodated in public high schools is 15 447, while public primary schools currently accommodate 26 365 learners.

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